Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-11
PRODUCTION OF EXPLOSIVES.
Some Chemical combinations-c -cordits
and NitroaIyearin.

Some Chemical combinations-Cordite
and NitrosIyeerin.
High explosives, properly so-called,
are those which will not explode ex-
cept under special conditions 0rdi-
nary black powder gives out its exc
piosive property II ignited by match
or a spark. An explosion results be-
cause black powder is an intimate
mechanical mixture Of certain COM
bustihles which burn with great ra-
pidity and produce enormous pres
sure.
( But to obtain full effect from high
explosives q detonator must be used,
and the rapidity of the explosion Of
such explosives is very much greater
than that of gunpowder. The basis
OF all high explosives is a chemical
combination Of certain nitrogenous
substances. Nitrogen is an inert eie-
ment. and therefore does not main
tain firm grip of the substances
with which It Is united. and such sub
stances are said to be unstable.
! In the production OF high explo-
sives the object is to produce sub
stance which. while reasonably sta
BILE under certain ordinary conditions.
can be put into condition OF such
excessive instability that 1t viii de-
compose instantaneously. This in
stantaneous decomposition Is explo-
sion, and 1t is brought about with
high explosives by means of a small
detonator charge that is exploded In
the middle Of the charge Of high ex-
plosives and thereby gives such a
shock to the chemical molecular
structure Of the high explosive that
the latent instability is invoked and
explosion ensues.
A detonator for this purpose usu-
ally consists of shell containing a
compound known as illuminate OF
mercury, with which is sometimes
mixed chlorate, and q detonator
must be Of such size and power as to
be capable of bringing about this
condition Of molecular instability
throughout the whole Of the charge
to be fired, otherwise portion Of the
charge may not be destroyed and re-
main a subsequent danger In mine
or elsewhere.
A safe and characteristic high ex-
plosive Of the propulslve order Is the
cordite which Is used In firearms Of
all sizes. Cordite consists Of glincot-
ton, nitroglycerin and mineral jelly.
suitably incorporated by aid of a sol
vent, acetone, which Is dried out Of
the mixture and leaves finished cor
dite as a horny. tough substance, re-
sembling celluloid in appearance.
Naturally in the production of an
explosive the dangerous processes
must he minimized, and cleanliness,
accuracy and great care are required.
The nitrogiycerin used in cordite is
substance made by acting upon
glycerin which has been allowed to
absorb a quantity of N. G., technical
ly it is dangerous liquid. but 1t can
be made safe by certain admixture of
other materials.
Thus dynamite is merely Kiesel-
guhr, or diatomaceous earth, calcin-
ed and clean, which has been allow
ed to absorb quantity Of N. g. The
quantity absorbed must always be
less than the capiilariry of the cellu-
lar diatoms enables them easily to re-
tain without drip or overflow. Kie-
selguhr, fully charged with N. G., SO
that the liquid leaks out Of the COM
pound, is as dangerous as the unab-
sorbed liquid, because when fully
charged there is no capacity for in
nocuous compression and the full
danger of an incompressible, unstable
liquid may be developed by the most
trivial cause.
In cordite. though solidity has been
attained, the dangerous instability
has been SO far overcome that only
by ignition can 1t again be brought
into action. We may thus follow the
manufacture Of this article as one OF
the safest and best known propellant
explosives, for cordite is used only as
an ammunition.-Cassi Magazine.