A NEW OR IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL, TO BE USED FOR BLASTING IN MINES AND QUARRIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co. :- Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL, TO BE USED FOR BLASTING IN MINES AND
QUARRIES" to be as follows:-
This Invention bas for its object a new or improved composition, resulting from
the first re-action of the decomposition which takes place in a space under pressure
and in a temperature progressively rising, between sulphates, nitrates, and glycerine
or other substance containing cellulose and giving rise to the formation of the
series of nitro-celluloses.
The materials suitable for the production of this combination may be prepared
he wither of the following nine formules.
The first four materials in these formulas with the exception of part of the
nitrate of potash, assist in the reactions between the nitrate of potash, sulphate
of iron, and glycerine, which produce in the hole in which they are exploded for
blasting, the series of nitrated celluloses, by affording six equivalents of carbon,
two of hydrogen, and four of oxygen.

page_text: The re-actions which produce this series of more or less nitrated cellulose, are as
follows:-
Constituent Elements.
HB OG
H° 0°
CHS 06.
H'
4
Resulting Products.
B
C@ H® O® +C+H+O+NO =CH2° 0° (NO) Mononitro-cellulose.
CHO+C+H2+0+ (NO3)2=C¹ H¹0 01° (NO) 2 Binitro-cellulose.
CB HB OB+C+H2+0*+ (NO) ³=012 H10 01° (NO³) 3 Trinitro-cellulose.
C6 HS O -H²+0+ (NO³) C1 H10 O¹0 (NO) Quadrinitro-cellulose.
H+0+(NO5) 5=012 H10 010 (NO5) 5 Pentanitro-cellulose.
+(NO) =C H10 010 (NO) * Hexanitro-cellulose.
'+0'+(NO) 8=C12 H10010 (NO) 8 Octonitro-cellulose.
CHO+C+H2+O4 + (NO³) 10=C1 H10 010 (NO 5) 10 Decanitro-cellulose.
C° H³ 06+C+H³+0*+ (NO³)²º=C¹¹º H¹º 0¹º (NO) 20 Double decanitro-cellulose.
In order to prepare the composition, the five materials first named, viz. :-nitrate
of potash, sulphur, lampblack, tan and sulphate of iron, are mixed with a small
quantity of water after having been reduced to powder. They are then placed in
a vessel of sufficient size, and are heated to from 110° to 120° and the mixture is
removed when it has become a nearly dry powder. It is then removed and further
heated over a firo until it is completely dry, and after having cooled, the glycerine
or other substance containing cellulose is added to it.
In this condition the polynitrocellulose has the form of a black powder
unalterable in the air, not liable to alteration by keeping, and having very great
explosive force varying according to the formula which has been used. Ignited in
free air it fuses and burns like slow powder, as the mixture which contains the
necessary elements for forming nitro-cellulose, only permits of such formation when
it is in the chamber bored for blasting, preserved from contact with the air, and
under the action of the increasing heat which is developed, and the pressure caused
by the action of the different materials forming the composition.
The polynitrocellulose prepared as described may be used as a powder or in a
compressed form as may be most convenient.
When made according to formula 1 its power is greater as an explosive agent
than ordinary mining powder, and if made according to the other formulae, than
the best known dynamite or explosives of the like kind.
The
The gases resulting from its use do not affect the health of the miners, their
decomposition producing principally carbonic acid and the vapour of water.
explosive can be manufactured without danger, the combinations of the dangerous
materials only occurring by the re-actions which take place in the blasting hole or
chamber itself. It should be rammed or tamped like ordinary mine blasting
powder, and fired by a fuze or an electric current.
Dated this 8th day of January 1884

page_text: I EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co.:- Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR BLASTING IN MINES AND
QUARRIES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object a new or improved composition, resulting from.
the first reaction of the decomposition which takes place in a space under pressure
and in a temperature progressively rising, between sulphates, nitrates, and glycerine,
or other substance containing cellulose and giving rise to the formation of the
series of nitro-celluloses.
The materials suitable for the production of this combination may be prepared.
by either of the following nine formuloe
The first four materials in these formuloe, with the exception of part of the
nitrate of potash, assist in the reactions between the nitrate of potash, sulphate of
iron, and glycerine, which produce in the hole in which they are exploded for
blasting, the series of nitrated celluloses, by affording six equivalents of carbon,
two of hydrogen, and four of oxygen.
The reactions which produce this series of more or less nitrated cellulose, are as
follows:-
4
-
Resulting Products
2
4
G
Constituent Elements.
CHO+C+H+0'+ NO* = = C¹² H10 01° (NO) Mononitro-cellulose.
CH® O°+C+H3+01+ (NO³) 2012 H10 01° (NO5) * Binitro-cellulose.
Ce HB O°+C+H2+0'+ (NO') C¹ H10 010 (NO) ³ Trinitro-cellulose.
HB O+C+H+0*+ (N05) *=C18 10 0 10 (NO5) Quadrinitro-cellulose.
H8 06 -H2+0*+(NO) =C12 H10 O10 (NO) 5 Pentanitro-cellulose.
CHO+C+H²+O‘+(NO³) C1 H10 O10 (NO) Hexanitro-cellulose.
CB HB 06 - H²+O*+ (NO³) 8=0¹³ ³° 0¹º (NO)" Octonitro-cellulose.
CH® O®+C+H2+0'+(NO³) 10=C1 H10 010 (NO) 10 Decanitro-cellulose.
Cª H³ O®+C®+H³+O‘+(NO³)²º=C¹³ H¹º O¹º (NO05) 20 Double decanitro-cellulose.
In order to prepare the composition, the five materials first named, viz.: nitrate
of potash, sulphur, lampblack, tan, and sulphate of iron, are mixed with a small
quantity of water after having been reduced to powder. They are then placed in
a vessel of sufficient size, and are heated to from 110° to 120° and the mixture is
removed when it has become a nearly dry powder. It is then removed and further
heated over a fire until it is completely dry, and after having cooled, the glycerine
or other substance containing cellulose is added to it.
In this condition the polynitrocellulose has the form of a black powder
unalterable in the air, not liable to alteration by keeping, and having very great

page_text: explosive force varying according to the formula which has been used. Ignited in
free air it fuses and burns like slow powder, as the mixture which contains the
necessary elements for forming nitro-cellulose, only permits of such formation when
it is in the chamber bored for blasting, preserved from contact with the air, and
under the action of the increasing heat which is developed, and the pressure caused
by the action of the different materials forming the composition.
The polynitrocellulose prepared as described may be used as a powder or in a
compressed form as may be most convenient.
When made according to formula 1 its power is greater as an explosive agent
than ordinary mining powder, and if made according to the other formulce, than
the best known dynamite or explosives of the like kind.
The gases resulting from its use do not affect the health of the miners, their
decomposition producing principally carbonic acid and the vapour of water. The
explosive can be manufactured without danger, the combinations of the dangerous
materials only occurring by the re-actions which take place in the blasting hole or
chamber itself. It should be rammed or tamped like ordinary mine blasting
powder, and fired by a fuse or an electric current.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1. The method of manufacturing explosive compounds, so that their separate
constituent parts can be mixed and pressed safely and only become dangerously
explosive in the place where they are to be used, substantially as described.
2. For blasting purposes, the method of using explosives of polynitrocellulose
made according to the several formuloe given, either in powder or in a compressed
form, substantially as described.