An Improved Manufacture of Explosives.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Explosives.
H, LOUIS WILHELM BUSE, of Langendreer, in the district of Bochum, in the
Empire of Germany, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to explosives for use in fiery mines and has for its object
to increase the safety and effect of the now well-known nitrate of ammonia
explosives, which contain nitro, and nitro-halogen bodies as their carbon components,
by adding thereto permanganates, chromates and bichromates or any of them.
It has been ascertained that the safety of explosives of the "Securite" type in
fire-damp and coal-dust increases in proportion to the diminution of the percentage
of their carbon components from the theoretically calculated quantity.
By thus reducing the carbon component however, the capability or capacity of
transmitting the explosion from cartridge to cartridge and the explosive power are
both diminished to such an extent that these explosives become practically useless.
If, however, I add a proportionate quantity of a permanganate, chromate or
bichromate varying from say 10 per cent. downwards not only do I obtain the
power and capability of transmission originally possessed by an explosive
inanufactured with the full theoretical quantity of the carbon component, but I
enhance these properties without impairing the increased safety of the explosive in
fire-damp and coal-dust due to the reduction of the percentage of the carbon
component.
If, for instance, nitro-naphthaline and nitrate of ammonia in the theoretical
proportions of 9.2 per cent. of the former and 90.8 per cent. of the latter be
converted by means of the solution method into an explosive I find that a 30 m/m
cartridge of the ready-made explosive will transmit explosion when fired with a
No. 6 detonator containing 1 gramme of fulminate charge, and that when tested in
the Trauzel lead block it produces a cavity of 45 cubic centimetres.
But if, in order to make an explosive which is safer in fire-damp and coal-dust,
4 per cent. only of nitro-naphthaline be mixed with 96 per cent. of nitrate of
ammonia by the solution method it is only possible to obtain transmission of
explosion by means of a No. 9 detonator containing 2.5 grammes of fulminate
charge, whilst the cavity obtained by the Trauzel test is reduced to 280 cubic
centimetres.
If however the last named compound be incorporated with say 4 per cent. of the
permanganate, chromate or bichromate of potash the capability of transmitting
explosion is at once increased to such an extent that a No. 3 detonator containing
0.540 gramme of fulminate will suffice to secure trausmission of explosion, and the
explosive effect is increased to such an extent that a cavity of 00 cubic centimetres
is produced in the lead block of the Trauzel test. The influence of the
permanganates, chromates and bichromates on the capability of transmitting
explosion and strength of the explosive is shewn in the same clear and evident
manner in the preparation of nitrate of ammonia explosives with any of the other
nitro or nitro-halogen compounds, so much so that it is unnecessary to mention any
further examples.
In addition to the above properties those explosives which contain permanganates,
chromates and bichromates are, when tested in the trial galleries in the presence of
fire-damp and coal-dust found to possess increased safety due to the fact that the

page_text: gases produced by the salts which have been added reduce considerably the
temperature of the gases resulting from the explosion.
The manufacture of the explosives containing permanganates, chromates and
bichromates can be carried out by any of the hitherto known methods of preparing
explosives and powders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A method of insuring increased safety in the use of the aforesaid nitrate of
ammonia explosives in the presence of fire-damp or coal-dust and of increasing
their power, by the addition of permanganates, chromates and bichromates or any
of them in about the proportions specified.
2. An explosive having as its main components nitrate of ammonia and nitro
or nitro-halogen hydro-carbons or their derivatives, incorporated with permanganates,
chromates or bichromates separately or together substantially in the proportions
stated and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.