New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-08
clee-nlxeJthe Cotton Preparatory Nitra-raOs,.

/ the repulsfve action OF alcohol the remain'
ing moisture is expelled. This leaves
some of the alcohol in the guncotton, and
by the addition of ether the needful sol
vent is formed which changes the ''pyro
into a "colloid." a kin Of celulOid.
Chemically our smokeless powder is now
complete, but II still has 10 undergo some
mechanical treatments before We rave
propellant fit for modern ordnance
In order to make the stuff homogeneous
the "colloid" is subjected a number OF
times to high pressure, and is pressed
into a cylindrical form each cake weigh
ing i'm the neighborhood of fifty pounds
In this condition the powder feels TO the
touch somewhat like rub m. These
cakes are then put into another press and
forced through dies. from which II issues
in continuous round rod from each ma
chine, the rod being perforated concen'
trically from end 10 end BY symmetr-
cally arranged passages The rods are
cut by machinery into short lengths
which constitute the grains Of smokeiess
powder These grains contain an undesir-
vent. This excess is extracted by dry
ing process. which is virtually one OF dis-
tillation. BY this means the solvent re-
covered reaches an annual value OF many
thousands OF dollars, and il can be USED
again I'm powder manufacturing. In tne
early days of our factory at Indian heao
the grains we're dried in the open at
% Il nd
alcohol simply evaporated and was 'os'
for all time The present economies
method makes il possible TO produce OUT
navy smokcless powder more reasonaol!.
The layman must not suppose that all Of
the solvent is extracted; IL Is desirao'
that a definite percentage should rems'"
This has a restraining effect upon tns
impetuousness OF burning I'm othcI
words, il helps 10 regulate the speed WIN
which the propelling gases are senersteo'
When the powder has been dried 20 tns
right degree II is subjected 70 firing teso
in a gun OF appropriate Size ana us PEI
Torrance critically watched. n IL mee.
the prescribed requirements IL Is packe'
in Theoretically sealed cans and IS dess
mated by distinctive number or loh
II is then ne TO be sent 10 the ships D''
this does not end the powder factory
watchfulness over each particular 1o'
These lots" may have certain indiviou''
characteristics. and these must not %
lost sight OF when the powder has s'''
into the magazines of "A distant Vees'
Therefore. some OF every lot Is pla0S'
I'm surveillance magazine at lhu'"
Head. i'm which the temperature Is NY.
at a height corresponding to that OF Nv
normal magazine on shipboard. Al
ular and frequent intervals these sdhP'
are tested to see II they have chsns.s
either chemically or physically IN o.
way menacing their efficiency or s"
in service. ON board of every sup "a
ordnance officer does the same thi''s' a.
IL is his duty 10 advise the burea"
Ordnance of any significant altera".
Even though smokeless powder may
main stable for decade, stu II -
prove tickle under certain condi''o'S -
this is one OF the penalties that We "a.
to pay for this modern remarAao.o "a,
pellant. The French naval men W. 80,
respect these characteristics anu
know the result.
Smokeless powder, as We have saio' n
be made and modelled to suit guns y,
calibres and varying lengths by ins~'.'
the grains OF different sizes ana oy ~
forating these units with the right 'o's
her Of lengthwlse passages. The aVe'.
civilian quite reasonably asks. "Why w
perforations?" This is one OF the re"..
cunning parts Of the ordnance chem". 4,
work. In the days OF smoky power -
was necessary to build the rear Gnu
guns Extraordinarily heavy ana s'ro"s
This was because that powder pul"s
very quickly and produced In an ins's-
a violent and excessive pressure, even
fore the projectiIe was started forwsro
Now smokeless powder burns quite ~
ferently. and the object In designing "
rcrfjuu~d on seventh mage.