Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-05
POWERFUL new EXPLOSIVE
"AMMoNAL," DECORATING SUB
STANCE OF HIGH FORCE.
PuIverized Aluminium and Ammo
MUM Nitrate-Promises Much
as a Blasting Medium.


A new decorating substance, to which
the name of ''ammonar has been given
is described in Energy Ueipsic. Germany
The new explosive has the advantage that
1t cannot be set of by ordinary means,
but requires a special detonator of great
power, SO that accidents are nearly i'm
possible. This quality is due to the fact
that it Is a mixture Of a metal having
great affinity for oxygen, with an ex-
plosive whose constituents are easily sep
arated. Says the writer:
Chemistry tells us that certain ele-
ments, uniting into compounds of great
power. can be disengaged from these COM
pounds only by the application OF a GER
tain form of energy Of equal intensity
In such cases. one says that these ele-
ments have great affinity for each other
Ordinary analyses are unable TO separase
the elements, violent mean5 being es-
sential One hundred years ago trials
we're made to separate aluminium oxid
into its components. but 1t required more
powerful methods than then existed to
effect it-electricity was the sought-for
agent.
Affinity of Compounds.
There are other chemical compounds
whose ingredients have little affinity for
each other. SO that only a small influence
is necessary to separate them. Ammo
mum nitrate is one of this class, an
odorless. heavy vapor being distilled
from it at low temperature and then
serving as a narcotic. If suddenly ig-
nited ammonium nitrate separates into
its elements with immense force. then
having the nature of an explosive And
yet 1t is not available for this purpose,
being far inferior to dynamite, lyddite
and other explosives. 1t has, neverthe-
less. other qualities making 1t a splendid
expiosive-it is absolutely smokeless and
the products of its combustion are in
nOcuous
1.-The idea was easily suggested of mix
ing finely pulverized aluminium with am
monium nitrate. the product yielding an
explosive Of tremendous force. Ammo
ated in its power by modifying the rela-
tions of its components, SO that 1t has
the force of the most powerful nitroglyc-
erin or the weakest grade OF black pow
der. In this manner, ammonia can be
adapted to all kinds of work In mines,
for the extraction Of coal and slate. in
which the explosion must have slow.
loosening effect, and of gold. In which
the ore can be moved only by a sudden
crushing movement.
The manner of operation OF the new ex-
plosive is obvious from what has been
said above. The pulverized aluminium, on
being ignited, takes up the oxygen OF the
ammonium nitrate. generating an enor-
nous amount of heat, and expanding the
gaseous product with explosive force.
Other explosives employed in mines evolve
noxious vapors. but ammonia gives on
only nitrogen. oxygen and steam. al sub
stances beneficial rather than harmful. A
further advantage of ammonia Is the COM
plete safety of its manufacture, which
renders superfiuous the extra precautions
usually taken in making other explosives.
1t may he stored without danger, and the
quality is not affected by time. as long as
it is kept in dry place. We read further:
Burns Slowly in Fire.
"Exhaustive trials have been made with
ammonia. Three pounds of the strongest
quality were placed in package and
thrown into the fire. The package merely
burned, without any explosion occurring.
Then one pound was placed on rock and
hit with a sharp hammer, no explosion
resulting; FIVE pounds We're laid on rail-
way track, an engine and eight trucks
passing over it without causing any dam
age. Finally a package containing three
hounds was shot at with revolver, at
close range, likewise without results. In
fact, ammonia can be exploded only by
means of a slow match; II is pressed into
the form of bobhin and thus can be
placed in the blast hole.
"Irndoubtediy. this new invention Is
wonderful scientific achievement, and VIII
produce many changes in the present ma
ture of blasting. It's Importance cannot
he estimated, since more and more mines
are being exploited, more uses are being
found for explosives above and under
ground and the future Will, no doubt, dis
cover even other uses.