Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application (In the United Kingdom), 7th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
J, ERNEST AUGUSTE GEORGE STREET, of 60, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, in the
Republic of France. Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:--
In a former patent I claimed the solution in oil of nitio or azo derivatives, alone or
mixed, in order to produce chlorate powders, by mixing these solutions with chlorate
of potash, at a temperature at which said solutions are liquid.
But there are other substances which do not come under the head of nitio-
derivatives, namely nitric ethers such as nitro-glyceume, nitro-cellulose or organic
salts as picrate of aniline.
Nitroglyceume and nitrocellulose are not soluble in oil and it would be impossible
to prepare sufficiently homogenous chlorate ponders containing both oil and nitro.
glycerine or oil and nitro cellulose, without risk of accident, which would be con-
siderable.
This application for patent of invention has for its object to guarantee me the
exclusive right of utilising these substances in the manufacture of chlorate powders
by processes hereinafter described and is based on the following properties of nitro-
glycerine and nitro-cellulose
Nitro-glycerine and mononitronaphtaline can be mixed in any proportion at the
melting temperature of the nitro-naphtaline. When the quantity of nitronaphtaline
exceeds a certain proportion, it chrystallises when cooled.
The solubility of mitronaphtaline in nitroglycerine is well known, but what is not
known is the property of vegetable or animal oil to dissolve in these solutions in a
certam proportion. Inversely, a certain quantity of nitroglycerine can be dissolved
in a solution of mitionaphtaline in oil
These mixtes do not explode under a blow of a hammer on an anvil.
Without entering to details as to solubility of these substances with regard one
to the other, the following examples may be given.
To a solution of 100 giammes of nitronaphtaline in 50 grammes of castor oil at
709-80° Centigrade can be added 100 giammes of nitroglycerine without, there
occurring on cooling anything except the crystallisation of a small quantity of 'nition
naphtaline, which renders the mass pasty. Nitroglycerine and oil do not separate
out

page_text: On the other hand, to dissolve 100 grammes of nitroglycerine in 100 giammes of
oil, it is necessary to add 150 grammes of nitronaphtaline. The temperature is raised
to 70°-80° as before, and the mixture having once been effected does not separate
on cooling, only a slight crystallisation of nitronaphtaline being noticeable, as before,
which renders the mass pasty.
18
=
When hot, at a temperature of about 70° to 80°, the solubility is much greater,
and to dissolve 100 grammes of nitroglycerine in 100 grammes of oil, it is only
necessary to add 100 grammes of nitronaphtaline. In the same way, it 18 possible
to dissolve 50 grammes of castor oil in 100 grammes of nitroglycerine in the presence
of 60 grammes of nitronaphtaline.
If to these mixtures is added pulverised chlorate of potash soda or an alkaline
perchlorate, the temperature being maintained by cooling, no separation is noticeable,
and an absolutely homogeneous powder is obtained, the mixture having been effected
whilst the substances were dissolved in one another.
T
following are, by way of example, two compeitions of these powders.
Nitronaphtaline
Nitroglycerine
Castor oil
-
Chlorate of potash -
Nitronaphtaline
Nitroglycerine
1.
500 grammes.
400
"
100
"
2400
"
2.
110 grammes
50
"
60
29
780
"
Castor oil
Chlorate of potash -
Dinitrocellulose is not soluble in vegetable or animal oil, but is soluble in nitro-
naphtaline which gelatinises it at its melting temperature as nitroglycerine.
The proportion of nitrocellulose that can be gelatinised in this reagent without the
aid of a solvent is comparatively small, owing to the fact that as soon as 6 to 8% of
dinitrocellulose has been introduced, the mass becomes too thick, even at 80°, to
allow of more being added. With the proportion herein before indicated, a
gelatinous and plastic product is obtained when hot, which hardens when cooled.
If, say, a solution of 1 gramme of dinitrocellulose in 20 grammes of dinitro-
naphtaline is taken and the whole melted over a water-bath, 5 to 7 grammes of oil
can be added to this solution. By stiring the products whilst hot. the mixture is
gradually effected and ends by becoming completely homogenous By using
mechanical stirring devices, and gradually adding oil, a greater quantity of oil could
certainly be added and a very homogenous mass obtained. On the other hand, if it
16 desired to gelatinise dinitrocellulose in a solution of nitronaphtaline in oil, the
gelatinisation commences in a mixture of 30 grammes of nitionaphtaline in
10 grammes of oil, but it takes place very slowly, for a quicker gelatinisation
35 grammes of mitronaphtaline in 10 grammes oil must be taken.
Trinitrocellulose also gelatinises in commercial nitronaphtaline although more
slowly than dinitrocellulose, and gelatinisation in mixtures of oil and nitronaphtaline
takes place in the same way although a little more slowly.
The following 18 an example
-

page_text: oil in nitroglycerine. As before, nitrobenzene and nitroglycerine mix in all propor-
tions, and a mixture of equal parts of nitroglycerine and nitrobenzene does not
detonate under the blow of a hammer ou an anvil. As to solubility two examples
will be given in illustration. A mixture of 100 grammes of castor oil and
100 gramines of nitrobenzene easily dissolve, 100 grammes of nitroglycerine.
100 grammes of castor oil and 300 grammes of nitrobenzene dissolve 400 grammes
of nitroglycerine.
These mixtures are too liquid to allow of their being mixed alone in a practical
manner with chlorate or potash, the absorbing power of which is small, there would
be a risk of their exuding They can be thickened either by the addition of finely
divided cellulose in the form for instance of finely pulverised paper pulp, or of a
solid nitro-derivative, or by the addition of dinitrocellulose which gelatinises
more easily in nitrobenzene than in nitroglycerine, gelatinisation taking place when
cold in the first reagent.
Oil only slightly decreases the solubility of nitrocellulose in nitrobenzene, and it
is possible to dissolve 1 gramme of pyroxylin in 15 grammes of nitrobenzene and
5 grammes of oil previously mixed, as well as in a mixture of 10 grammes of nitro-
benzene and 10 grammes of oil. These solutions of nitrocellulose constitute resins,
not sensitive to blows, which easily absorb chlorate of potash. The final product
also has the appearance and consistency of a resin.
The following examples may be given .-
-
Having given the properties of nitronaphthaline and nitrobenzene which both
dissolve pyroxylin, even in the presence of a certain proportion of oil, I also claim the
mixture of these four substances, which mixed with chlorate of potash give a powder
or explosive for mines possessing advantageous properties.
An example of this kind of explosive 18 as follows :—

page_text: I, ERNEST AUGUSTE GEORGE STREET, of 60, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In a former patent I claimed the solution in oil of nitro and azo derivatives, alone or
mixed in order to produce chlorate powders, by mixing these solutions with chlorate
of potash, at a temperature at which said solutions are liquid.

page_text: But there are other substances which do not come under the head of nitro deriva-
tives, namely nitric ethers such as nitro glycerine, nitro cellulose or organic salts as
picrate of aniline.
Nitroglycerine and nitrocellulose are not soluble in oil and it would be impossible
to prepare sufficiently homogeneous chlorate powders containing both oil and nitro-
glycerine or oil and nitro cellulose, without risk of accident, which would be consider-
able.
This application for patent of invention has for its object to guarantee me the
exclusive right of utilising these substances in the manufacture of chlorate powders
by processes hereinafter described, and is based on the following properties of nitro-
glycerine and nitro-cellulose.
Nitro-glycerine and mononitronaphthaline can be mixed in any proportion at the
melting temperature of the nitro-naphthaline. When the quantity of nitronaphthaline
exceeds a certain proportion, it crystallises when cooled
The solubility of nitronaphthaline in nitroglycerine 18 well known, but what is not
known 18 the property of vegetable or animal oil to dissolve in these solutions in a
certain proportion. Inversely, a certain quantity of nitroglycerine can be dissolved
in a solution of nitronaphthaline in oil.
These mixtures do not explode under a blow of a hammer on an anvil.
Without entering into details as to solubility of these substances with regard one
to the other, the following examples may be given.
To a solution of 100 grammes of nitronaphthaline in 50-grammes of castor oil at
70° 80° Centigrade can be added 100 grammes of nitroglycerine without there
occurring on cooling anything except the crystallisation of a small quantity of
nitronaphthaline, which renders the mass pasty. Nitroglycerine and oil do not
separate out.
On the other hand, to dissolve 100 grammes of nitroglycerine in 100 grammes of
oil, it is necessary to add 150 grammes of nitronaphthaline. The temperature is
raised to 70°-80° as before, and the mixture having once been effected does not
separate on cooling, only a slight crystallisation of nitronaphthaline being noticeable,
as before, which renders the mass pasty
When hot, at a temperature of about 70° to 80°, the solubility 18 much greater,
and to dissolve 100 grammes of nitroglycerine in 100 grammes of oil, it is only
necessary to add 100 grammes of nitronaphthaline. In the same way, it is possible
to dissolve 50 grammes of castor oil in 100 grammes of nitroglycerine in the presence
of 60 grammes nitronaphthaline
If to these mixtures is added pulverised chlorate of potash or soda or an alkaline
perchlorate, the temperature being maintained by cooling, no separation is noticeable
and an absolutely homogeneous powder is obtained, the mixture having been effected
whilst the substances were dissolved in one anothei
The following are, by way of example, two compositions of these powders :—

page_text: The proportion of nitrocellulose that can be gelatinised in this reagent without the
aid of a solvent is comparatively small, owing to the fact that as soon as 6 to 8 % of
nitrocellulose has been introduced, the mass becomes too thick, even at 80°, to allow
of more being added. With the proportion herein before indicated, a gelatinous and
plastic product is obtained when hot, which haidens when cooled.
If say, a solution of one gramme of dinitrocellulose in 20 grammes of dinitronaph-
thaline is taken and the whole melted over a water-bath, 5 to 7 grammes of oil can
be added to this solution By stirring the products whilst hot, the mixture is
gradually effected and ends by becoming completely homogeneous. By using
mechanical sturing devices, and gradually adding oil, a greater quantity of oil could
certainly be added and a very homogeneous mass obtained. On the other hand, if it
is desired to gelatinise dimitrocellulose in a solution of nitionaphthaline in oil, the
gelatinisation commences in a mixture of 30 giammes of nitronaphthaline in 10
gramines of oil, but it takes place very slowly, for a quicker gelatinisation 35 grammes
nitronaphthaline in ten grammes of oil must be taken
Trinitrocellulose also gelatinises in commercial mitronaphthaline although more
slowly than dinitrocellulose, and gelatinisation in mixtures of oil and nitionaphthaline
takes place in the same way although a little more slowly.
The following v

page_text: Having given the properties of nitionaphthaline and nitrobenzene which both
dissolve pyroxylin, even in the presence of a certain proportion of oil, I also claim
the mixture of these four substances, which mixed with chlorate of potash give a
powder or explosive for nines possessing advantageous properties
An example of this kind of explosive is as follows:—

page_text: hot solution, crystallisation takes place so to say, molecule by molecule, on cooling,
and an absolutely homogeneous powder is obtained
The following 18 an example of an explosive with picrate of aniline as
base:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The process of manufacturing explosives, consisting in dissolving nitroglycerine
in an animal or vegetable oil suitably heated, dissolution being rendered possible by
the use of nitronaphthaline or nitrobenzene, these substances being either previously
dissolved in oil or in nitroglycerine or else mixed with oil at the same time as the
nitroglycerine; the solution thus prepared being finally mixed with pulverized
chlorate of potash or soda or with an alkaline perchlorate, substantially as
described.
2. In the process of manufacturing explosives described, the substitution for
nitroglycerine treated as described, of nitrocellulose previously dissolved in
nitronaphthaline or nitrobenzene, or in both these substances substantially as
described.
3. In the process of manufacturing explosives described, the substitution for
the nitroglycerine treated as described, either of a mixture of nitrocellulose and
nitroglycerine previously dissolved in nitrobenzene, or of a mixture of cellulose or a
nitroderivative with nitroglycerine dissolved in nitrobenzene, substantially as
described.
4. In the process of manufacturing explosives described the substitution for nitro-
naphthaline for the purpose of enabling nitroglycerine to dissolve in oil, of binitro-
benzene azobenzol, or nitraniline with or without the addition of nitrated cotton
substantially as described.
5. In the process of manufacturing explosives described the substitution for nitro-
glycerine treated as described, of picrate of aniline previously dissolved in nitrobenzene
as herein before specified.
6. Explosives prepared of materials in the manner and in the proportions
substantially as specified.