Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-06
SN[OKEIESS POWDER.
CORDTE THE MOST POTENT Ex-
PLOSlVE OF MODERN TIMES.

1t Is Composed of Nitroglycerin. Gun Cot
ton and vaseline-The Interesting Proc
ess by Which Its Dangerous Elements
Are Combined.
Since the advent of the speedy torpe-
do boat and since rapid firing guns have
been placed on battleships and cruisers
an explosive that would allow to tho
officers and gunners an unobstructed
view of an enemy under all conditions
has been sought, and thousands of dol
lars have been expended in the effort to
obtain satisfactory substitute for black
gunpowder. Cordite the latest explo-
sive, is said to be the most satisfactory
propellant Of modern times for naval
warfare, and the expert opinion seems
to be that in a few years gunpowder as
now understood will have vanished.
The earliest records of established
powder mills show that there was only
one in operation in 1890, this one being
in England. During the year 1887 the
Waltham Abbey Powder mills were
purchased by the English government.
They are still conducted by it. The Fa-
versham mills which up to that date
were the largest in the world passed
into the hands of a private corporation
in 1915. The manufacture of powder
was continued without much improve
ment, except in the efficiency Of the
grinding and mixing machinery, until
about 80 years ago, the formula for
black powder being saltpeter rs parts,
charcoal Is parts and sulphur 10 parts,
the whole forming mechanical mix
ture and not chemical compound
Smoleless powder, however, became
absolutely a necessity, for the reason
that smoke producing powders masked
the object aimed at, and the torpedo
boat, which was becoming recognized
feature of naval warfare, could dash up
and discharge one or more deadly mis-
silcs under cover Of the smoke.
Smokeless powders were first pro-
duced in France, and for some time the
secret Of the manufacture was guarded
jealousy. AS soon as the necessity for
this kind of powder became apparent,
however, number Of manufacturers
devoted attention to it, and as q result
various brands of smokeless explosives
were placed on the market.
The most satisfactory results eventu-
ally made their appearance in cordito,
which was produced through expert
ments made by Professor Dewar and Sir
Frederick Abel. Cordite is composed of
nitroglyccrin So per cent, gun cotton 81
per cent and vaseline per cent Nitro
glycerin is an oily, colorless liquid and
an active poison. 1t Is produced by mix
ing quantity of sulphuric acid with
almost double the amount of nitric acid
and allowing it to cool. About one
eighth of the total weight of glycerin is
then added gradually, the mixture be-
ing kept below temperature of 70 de-
grees F. by passing air and cold water
through it. After the mixture has stood
sufficient time the acids are drawn off,
and the residue (nitroglycerin) is wash
ed and filtered
Nitroglycerin cannot be ignited easily
by fame and lighted match or ia
per plunged into it would be extinguish-
ed. 1t is sensitive to friction or percus-
sion, either of which will detonate it.
Another popularity is that the higher
the temperature the more sensitive it
becomes 1t will solidify at temper
ature Of 40 degrees, and its explosive
force is estimated to be about twelve
times that of gunpowder.
One Of the most approved methods
used in the manufacture of gun cotton
is this: The raw cotton is torn into
shreds, dried and dipped in mixture
Of sulphuric and nitric acids. 1t is then
placed in stream of running water and
washed thoroughly. The cotton is then
wrung out, usually in centrifugal ma
chine.
1t is afterward boiled, dried, cut into
pulp and pressed into disks. When the
gun cotton is finished, there should be
no trace Of the acids remaining. Vase
line, the other component part of cor
dite is the we'll known extract from Pc
troleum, and its usefulness is chiefly to
Intricate the bore of the gun and thus
lessen tho friction between it and the
projcctile. 1t also has tendency to i'm
part waterproof nature to cordite.
A colorless liquid prepared from ace
tate of lime, called acetonc, is used as a
solvent in the manufacture of cordite
The method of preparing the explosive
is: The required proportion of nitro
glycerin is poured over the gun cotton,
and the two, with the addition of ace
tone, arc kneadod together into stiff
paste Vaseline is then added, and the
whole compound, after being thorough
! ly mixed, is put into machine and the
cordite pressed out and cut into lengths,
after which it is dried.
TO the artillerist the nature of cordito
is represented by fraction whose nu-
! merator gives in hundredths Of an inch
tho diameter Of tho die through which
the cordito has been pressed, its denom-
inator being the length of the stick in
inches. The cordite known as 3O-12,
which is the size used for the inch
quick firing guns, signifies that its di-
ameter is three tenths of an inch, and
it is IL inches long.
1t is necessary to use fine grain
powder to ignite charge of cordite, it
being secured in such manner that a
flash from the tube firing the gun will
cause the explosion of the charge A
full charge of powder for IL inch gun
is 295 pounds, while the cordite charge,
having the same efficiency, is only 1879
pounds.
Cordite is one Of the safest explosives
known, and is not dangerous unless it
and lighted without danger 1t burns
slowly aud with a bright flame. AL.