Improved Blasting Compound and Process for its Manufacture.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Blasting Compound and Process for its Manufacture.
We, Dr. FRIEDRICH MÜLLER, STEFAN OBERLÄNDER, VICTOR HUGO FUCHS, and
SIGMUND GOMPERZ, all of Lichtensteinstrasse No. 11, Vienna IX, Austria, Gentlemen,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
This invention relates to a blasting compound consisting mainly of nitrated tar
products, in particular nitrated carbolic acid with addition of sulphur, potash-
saltpetre, and cellulose (wood fibre or wood powder) entirely freed from resin, the
latter ingredient serving mainly as carrier of the explosive, but its action is also
increased by the nitration.
For increasing the disruptive force of the blasting compound, that is, for increasing
the yield of oxygen, it is advisable to add a small quantity of pyrolusite or other
substance yielding oxygen.
The loose carbolic acid-nitric acid compound produced by the nitration only
develops its disruptive force in the bore hole by means of the pressure of the
combustion gases generated on ignition, and it is therefore naturally quite harmless
under other circumstances.
The manufacture of the said blasting compound is carried out as follows:-
With 10 parts by weight of powdered sulphur are incorporated 12 parts of crude
black carbolic acid of 95 p.c. so that a semi pasty mass is produced.
Separate herefrom a second compound is produced by pouring 18 parts of concen-
trated nitric acid of 40° Be. into 40 parts of finely pulverised potash-saltpetre.
The first compound is then gradually introduced into the second one, preferably in a
cooled vessel, and is intimately mixed therewith; on the completion of the reaction
of the saltpetre upon the carbolic acid, the compound obtained is neutralised by 3
parts by weight of calcined carbonate of soda and 7 parts of wood powder, freed from
resin and acid are gradually added.
While still moist the mass thus produced can be rammed with uniform pressure
into cartridge cases of watertight paper, and these cartridges are then dried in the
air at a temperature of about 35º C.
The above given proportions of the solid ingredients can be varied in either
direction to the extent of about 2.5 p.c.
The ignition is preferably effected by means of a slow match.
The new blasting compound is entirely free from danger both as regards
manufacture, concussions, blows, and heating, and when ignited it burns without risk
of explosion if unconfined, as the blasting action thereof only takes place when the
gases combine under pressure in a closed bore hole.
On blasting with this explosive the rock is not finely splintered but is broken up
more or less uniformly into small pieces.
Dated this 15th day of March 1897.

page_text: Improved Blasting Compound and Process for its Manufacture.
We, Dr. FRIEDRICH MÜLLER, STEFAN OBERLÄNDER, VICTOR HUGO FUCHS, and
SIGMUND GOMPERZ, all of Lichtensteinstrasse No. 11, Vienna IX, Austria, Gentlemen,
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 a blasting compound consisting mainly of nitrated tar
products, in particular nitrated carbolic acid with addition of sulphur, potash-
saltpetre and cellulose (wood fibre or wood powder) entirely freed from resin, the
latter ingredient serving mainly as carrier of the explosive, but its action is also
increased by the nitration.
For increasing the disruptive force of the blasting compound, that is, for increasing
the yield of oxygen, it is advisable to add a small quantity of pyrolusite or other
substance yielding oxygen.
The loose carbolic acid-nitric acid compound produced by the nitration only
develops its disruptive force in the bore hole by means of the pressure of the
combustion gases generated on ignition, and it is therefore naturally quite harmless
under other circumstances.
The manufacture of the said blasting compound is carried out as follows :-
With 10 parts by weight of powdered sulphur are incorporated 12 parts of crude
black carbolic acid of 95 p.c. so that a semi-pasty mass is produced.
Separate herefrom a second compound is produced by pouring 18 parts of
concentrated nitric acid of 40° Be. into 40 parts of finely pulverised potash-
saltpetre.
The first compound is then gradually introduced into the second one, preferably
in a cooled vessel, and is intimately mixed therewith; on the completion of the
reaction of the saltpetre upon the carbolic acid, the compound obtained is neutralised
by 3 parts by weight of calcined carbonate of soda and 7 parts of wood powder, freed
from resin and acid are gradually added.
While still moist the mass thus produced can be rammed with uniform pressure
into cartridge cases of watertight paper, and these cartridges are then dried in the
air at a temperature of about 35° C.
The above given proportions of the solid ingredients can be varied in either
direction to the extent of about 2.5 p.c.
The ignition is preferably effected by means of a slow match.
The new blasting compound is entirely free from danger both as regards manu-
facture, concussions, blows and heating, and when ignited it burns without risk of
explosion if unconfined, as the blasting action thereof only takes place when the
gases combine under pressure in a closed bore hole.
On blasting with this explosive the rock is not finely splintered but is broken up
more or less uniformly into small pieces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A blasting compound consisting of a mixture of nitrated tar products (carbolic
acid), sulphur, potash-saltpetre and cellulose, containing, if necessary, pyrolusite,
the said blasting compound being neutralised, substantially as described.
2. The process for preparing a blasting compound such as is referred to in Claim 1,
consisting in preparing on the one hand a pasty mass of sulphur and carbolic acid

page_text: and on the other hand a pasty mass of potash-salt petre and nitric acid, mixing the
two masses, neutralising the mixture with calcined carbonate of soda and finally
adding cellulose (freed from resin and acid) and pyrolusite, substantially as
described.