Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Ju y, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
A communication from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ CHIMIQUE DES USINES DU RHÔNE,
anciennement GILLIARD P. MONNET ET CARTIER of Lyons, France, Manufacturers.
I, GEORGE BELOE ELLIS of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis of 55 and 56 Chancery
Lane in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of explosives.
The explosives hitherto manufactured with potassium chlorate as oxygen-carrier
have been of inconsiderable importance in the field of modern explosives on account
of the danger arising from their readiness to fire by percussion or friction, and through
several other deficiencies and disadvantages in use.
The object of the present invention is to manufacture a safe and powerful explosive
with chlorate or perchlorate of potash.
According to the present invention an explosive with a basis of chlorate or
perchlorate of potassium may be prepared which in consequence of the peculiar
distribution of the carbonaceous matter, as well as of the oxygen-carrier, is stable and
completely free from danger inasmuch as decomposition and accidental ignition
through percussion or friction appear to be avoided, whilst the strength of the
explosive is at the same time considerably increased.
In carrying out this invention there is employed with the chlorate or perchlorate of
potassium carbonaceous material possessing certain qualities and which is preferably
prepared or treated as mentioned below. The employment of mineral coal in the
explosive is inadmissible on account of its brittleness and hardness, which consequently
makes it a source of danger as it tends to accidental ignition through percussion, blow
or rubbing together of the particles. The impurities or occasional constituents of
mineral coal, such as sulphur, sulphide of antimony, phosphorous, oxide of iron, or
manganese, in consequence of their affinity for chlorate of potassium also tend to the
decomposition of the explosive.
In its natural or untreated state vegetable charcoal is also unsuitable for practical
employment owing to the hygroscopic character of the material; the water absorbed
dissolves smaller or larger quantities of chlorate of potassium, and when this
crystallises out of the solution on drying, the alteration in physical condition increases
the tendency of the explosive to ignite by blow or friction and consequently makes it
dangerous. Explosives made with natural or untreated vegetable charcoal are also
unsuitable in consequence of the property inherent to the charcoal of absorbing
noxious gases.
The employment of peat as carbonaceous material, which has also been recommended,
combines on the other hand the drawbacks both of coal and charcoal, whilst the use
of certain petroleum oils as carbon-carriers is open to objection on account of their
inflammability.
The carbonaceous matter to be employed according to the present invention may be
peat-coke or peat-charcoal, or the retort residues from bituminous material (especially
from the distillation of petroleum, and brown-coal) which have already undergone the
necessary preliminary treatment, allowing it to be reduced to an extremely fine state

page_text: of division, and by its smoothness and looseness avoiding any danger from friction in
the explosive mixture that may lead to its ready ignition by accidental blow or
concussion, or the carbonaceous matter may be submitted to a preliminary treatment
after the following manner.
The carbonaceous matter is carefully dried and then mixed with tar (preferably of
a fatty consistency) and an extremely intimate mixture made by trituration or
grinding, the finest possible division of the carbonaceous material being thereby
secured at the same time. Instead of tar, vaselin, soft paraffin or other suitable
mineral oil may be employed, and in order to neutralise the free acid constituents
which frequently occur in commercial tar and its substitutes an addition of carbonate
of magnesia, carbonate of lime or other suitable salt is made to the tar, which if
necessary is previously purified from sulphur, cresols etc., by treatment, for instance,
with caustic soda. The addition of the salt has also a neutralising effect upon the
other constituents of the explosive mixture.
By such preliminary treatment of the carbonaceous material with tar or its
substitutes as above described, and which are preferably added in a liquefied condition,
other carbonaceous materials such as charcoal, peat moss, saw-dust, bran, malt grains
and the like may be rendered available for use.
The mixture of tar with the neutralising salt is allowed to stand several hours before
the dry carbonaceous material is added in a finely divided state, and the intimate
mixture is then made as above described by trituration or grinding. The trituated or
ground mixture is carefully dried, and again pulverised. Finally the mixing of the
prepared carbonaceous material with the oxygen-carrier, chlorate or perchlorate of
potash is carried out, preferably by means of sifting through a fine sieve. No caking
of the explosive takes place.
The pulverulent explosive mixture may either be employed as a loose powder or
filled into cartridges and can be exploded by means of a slow match or of a detonating
cap. The preparation of the carbonaceous material for the explosive as a separate
operation has the great advantage that it can be carried out without the slightest
danger at any convenient place and the material kept separately in stock, whilst the
explosive mixture can be readily prepared therefrom as required.
The explosive can be made still more permanent and the danger of the absorption
of moisture and consequent formation of crystals on drying may be completely
avoided if the powdered chlorate of potash, which should contain no free chlorine nor.
chloride of potash, is treated before mixing with a very dilute solution of shellac or
other indifferent resin in alcohol or similar solvent, or if it is treated in a similar
manner to the carbonaceous material with tar that has been previously purified from
sulphur etc., and neutralised in the manner above specified.
The following proportions of the ingredients are recommended in the manufacture
of the explosive, although it is not necessary that they be strictly adhered to in order
to get good results. In 100 parts,
80 parts chlorate or perchlorate of potash.
5 to 7 parts tar.
12
to 14 parts peat, charcoal or coke.
to 1 part carbonate of magnesia or carbonate of lime.
The quantity of neutralising salt to be added depends especially upon the degree of
impurity or acidity of the tar or of the carbonaceous material.
For an explosive which is specially intended for use in fiery mines, and consequently
in which it is desirable to exclude the formation of flames on detonation as far as
possible, the following composition is preferable. In 100 parts,
80 parts chlorate of potash.
19 parts coke or peat-coke.
1 part carbonate of magnesia or carbonate of lime.
In this case the carbonaceous material selected should be of such a shoreater that

page_text: the prior treatment with tar may be neglected as the material already contains
sufficient bituminous constituent to give it the necessary fineness and lightness when
powdered. The neutralising salt is preferably added in aqueous solution or suspension
to the finely ground coke allowed to stand for a few hours, dried and well milled
before chlorate of potash is added to the mixture.
Dated this 7th day of July 1896
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
. Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosive Compounds.
A communication from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ CHIMIQUE DES USINES DU RHÔNE,
anciennement GILLIARD P. MONNET ET CARTIER, of Lyons, France, Manufacturers.
I, GEORGE BELOE ELLIS of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis, of 55 and
56 Chancery Lane in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 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 the manufacture of explosives.
The explosives hitherto manufactured with potassium chlorate as oxygen-carrier
have been of inconsiderable importance in the field of modern explosives on account
of the danger arising from their readiness to fire by percussion or friction, and through
several other deficiencies and disadvantages in use.
The object of the present invention is to manufacture a safe and powerful explosive
with chlorate or perchlorate of potash.
According to the present invention, an explosive with a basis of chlorate or
perchlorate of potassium may be prepared, which in consequence of the peculiar
distribution of the carbonaceous matter, as well as of the oxygen-carrier, is stable
and completely free from danger, inasmuch as decomposition and accidental ignition
through percussion or friction appear to be avoided, whilst the strength of the explosive
is at the same time considerably increased, without developing a pulverizing
action.
In carrying out this invention there is employed with the chlorate or perchlorate
of potassium, carbonaceous material possessing certain qualities, and which is
preferably prepared or treated as mentioned below. The employment of mineral coal
in the explosive is inadmissible, on account of its brittleness and hardness, which
consequently makes it a source of danger, as it tends to accidental ignition through
percussion, blow or rubbing together of the particles. The impurities or occasional
constituents of mineral coal, such as sulphur, sulphide of antimony, phosphorus,
oxide of iron, or manganese, in consequence of their affinity for chlorate of potassium,
also tend to the decomposition of the explosive.
In its natural or untreated state vegetable charcoal is also unsuitable for practical
employment, owing to the hygroscopic character of the material; the water absorbed
dissolves smaller or larger quantities of chlorate of potassium, and when this
crystallizes out of the solution on drying, the alteration in physical condition increases
the tendency of the explosive to ignite by blow or friction, and consequently makes it
dangerous. Explosives made with natural or untreated vegetable charcoal are also
unsuitable in consequence of the property inherent to the charcoal of absorbing
noxious gases.
The employment of peat as carbonaceous material, which has also been recommended,
combines on the other hand the drawbacks both of coal and charcoal, whilst the use

page_text: of certain petroleum oils as carbon-carriers is open to objection on account of their
inflammability.
The carbonaceous matter to be employed according to the present invention may
be peat-coke or peat-charcoal, or the retort residues from bituminous material
(especially from the distillation of petroleum, shale, bituminous coal and brown coal)
which has already undergone the necessary preliminary treatment, allowing it to be
reduced to an extremely fine state of division, and by its smoothness and looseness
obviates any danger from friction' in the explosive mixture that may lead to its ready
ignition by accidental blow or concussion; or the carbonaceous matter may be
submitted to a preliminary treatment after the following manner.
The carbonaceous matter is carefully dried and then, preferably when hot, mixed
with tar (preferably of a fatty consistency), and an extremely intimate mixture made
by trituration or grinding, the finest possible division of the carbonaceous material
being thereby secured at the same time. Instead of tar, vaselin, soft paraffin or other
suitable mineral oil may be employed, and in order to neutralize the free acid
constituents which frequently occur in commercial tar and its substitutes, an addition
of carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of lime or other suitable salt is made to the tar,
which if necessary is previously purified from sulphur, cresols etc., by treatment, for
instance, with caustic soda. The addition of the salt has also a neutralizing effect
upon the other constituents of the explosive mixture.
By such preliminary treatment of the carbonaceous material with tar or its
substitutes as above described, and which are preferably added in a liquefied condition,
'other carbonaceous materials such as charcoal, peat moss, sawdust, bran, malt grains
and the like may be rendered available for use.
The mixture of tar with the neutralizing salt is allowed to stand for several hours
before the dry carbonaceous material is added in a finely divided state, and the
intimate mixture is then made as above described by trituration or grinding. The
triturated or ground mixture is carefully dried, and again pulverized. Finally
the mixing of the prepared carbonaceous material with the oxygen-carrier, chlorate
or perchlorate of potash, which must be previously finely powdered and thoroughly
dried, is carried out, preferably by means of sifting through a fine sieve. No caking
of the explosive takes place.
The pulverulent explosive mixture may either be employed as a loose powder or
ntled into cartridges, and can be exploded by means of a slow match or of a detonating
cap. The preparation of the carbonaceous material, for the explosive as a separate
operation has the great advantage that it can be carried out without the slightest danger
at any convenient place, and the material kept separately in stock, whilst the explosive
mixture can be readily prepared therefrom as required.
The explosive can be made still more permanent and the danger of the absorption of
moisture and consequent formation of crystals on drying may be completely avoided
if the powdered chlorate of potash, which should contain no free chlorine nor chloride
of potash, is treated before mixing with a very dilute solution of shellac or other
indifferent resin in alcohol or similar solvent and then dried to dissipate the solvent,
or if it is treated in a similar manner to the carbonaceous material with tar that has
been previously purified from sulphur etc., and neutralized in the manner above]
specified.
The following proportions of the ingredients are recommended in the manufacture
of the explosive, although it is not necessary that they be strictly adhered to in
order to get good results.
In 100 parts,
80 parts chlorate or perchlorate of potash ;
5 to 7 parts tar;
12 to 14 parts peat charcoal or coke;
to 1 part carbonate of magnesia or carbonate of lime.
The quantity of neutralizing salt to be added depends especially upon the degree of

page_text: In this case the carbonaceous material selected should be of such a character
that the prior treatment with tar may be neglected, as the material already
contains sufficient bituminous constituent to give it the necessary fineness and
lightness when powdered. The neutralizing salt is preferably added in aqueous
solution or suspension to the finely ground coke, allowed to stand for a few hours,
dried and well milled before chlorate of potash is added to the mixture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. In and for the manufacture of explosive compounds, the preparation of dry
pulverulent carbonaceous material by treating coke, charcoal or the like with liquid
desulphurated tar, paraffin or other bituminous matter neutralized with carbonate
of lime, carbonate of magnesia or other suitable neutralizing salt, and then drying
and pulverizing, substantially as described.
2. In the manufacture of explosive compounds, the use in combination with
chlorate or perchlorate of potassium, of dry pulverulent carbonaceous material, said
carbonaceous material being such as would result from following the process claimed
in Claim 1.
3. In the manufacture of explosive compounds, the use in combination with
chlorate or perchlorate of potassium of dry pulverulent carbonaceous material, said
carbonaceous material containing a large amount of bituminous constituents such
as the retort residues from the distillation of petroleum oils or shale or bituminous
minerals free from sulphur, sulphide of antimony, phosphorus, oxide of iron or
manganese, and neutralized with carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia or other
suitable neutralizing salt, substantially as described.
4. In and for the manufacture of explosive compounds in which chlorate or
perchlorate of potassium and carbonaceous material of the nature herein before
described are to be employed, treating the chlorate or perchlorate of potassium in
a state of fine powder with a dilute alcoholic or other solution of shellac or of other
resin, or with desulphurated and neutralized tar, and then drying the same,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. As novel products the explosive compounds described.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.