Improvements in Explosives.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Explosives..
I, ALFRED LUCK, of Brentcote, Dartford, in the County of Kent, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of explosives in which I employ
certain esters of cellulose, such as the acetate, the butyrate or the benzoate, or
mixtures or compounds of these in substitution for the whole or part of the
nitrate, the object which I have in view being to produce more stable compounds,
and also to give restraining effects in explosives required for certain purposes.
I may employ nitroglycerine and the acetate or other ester of cellulose thus
producing a gelatinous explosive.
Or I may employ nitrocellulose with the acetate or other ester of cellulose and
gelatinise the compound wholly or partially by a solvent.
The explosives thus produced can be treated in the same ways as those produced
without the use of esters of cellulose.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ALFRED LUCK, of Brentcote, Dartford, in the County of Kent, Chemist,
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:-
66
It is well known that gelatinous, or colloid explosives may be produced from
nitro-glycerin in conjunction with cellulose nitrates whether these are of high,
or of low nitration. The known explosives ** cordite and ballistite" for
guns of various kinds and "blasting gelatine' gelignite" &c. for mining and
blasting purposes generally are instances of such compounds.
>> <<
These explosives produce on explosion great heat which especially in the
case of fire-arms is a serious disadvantage. Compounds of nitro-glycerin and
cellulose nitrates also appear to have great tendency to instability especially in
hot climates and much trouble is sometimes caused with explosives like "gelig-
nite" which seem peculiarly liable to deteriorate.
I propose to form an entirely new series of explosives free from these objections
by using wholly or in part instead of the nitrates-other esters such as the

page_text: acetate, benzoate, butyrate &c., or compound esters of cellulose, or mixtures of
them. Of these esters, prefer the acetate chiefly on account of the fact which
I have discovered that it readily forms with nitro-glycerin, a very firm and
stable, gelatinous or colloid body without requiring addition of any solvent, such
as acetone, to assist the nitro-glycerin.
By varying the proportions of the acetate, thick or thin jellies may be obtained,
and to these other substances may be added if desired.
A solvent may also be added to assist the nitro-glycerin, but this is not
necessary unless cellulose nitrate is present, in which case a solvent is required
to attack the nitrate.
The products obtained may be formed into cords, flakes or cartridges or any
shape required.
In the manufacture of sporting "smokeless" gunpowder I have obtained good
results by using the acetate of cellulose mixed with the nitrate, the acetate serving
to restrain the speed of combustion of the nitrate. For instance 75 parts of
cellulose nitrate (of 13 per cent. nitrogen) may be mixed with 25 parts of cellulose
acetate, and the mixture formed into grains in the usual well known manner, and
then hardened to the required degree, by a hardening liquid suited to act upon
either the acetate or the nitrate, or on both.
Other ingredients, such as barium nitrate or di-nitro-benzene, or nitro-glycerin
or the like may also be used in the composition of the grains. These other
ingredients may be added either before, or after, hardening the grains, and in
some cases, when for instance it is desired to add di-nitro-benzene, or nitro-
glycerin these bodies may be added dissolved in the "hardening liquid." In the
case of nitro-glycerin, that substance itself will of course assist in hardening
the grains by virtue of its solvent action upon the cellulose acetate.
The esters may be mixed with the usual nitrate and partly or completely
gelatinized by means of the ordinary dough making machine commonly employed
and a solvent to act upon either or both of the ingredients. The paste thus
obtained may then be formed in the usual manner into cords, flakes or other
shapes as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: :―
The manufacture of explosives by employing in whole or in part instead of
cellulose nitrates, other esters of cellulose such as the acetate, benzoate, or
butyrate, substantially as described.