TRUVIDIONAL DIMIFICATIA
Year: 1899

page_text: TRUVIDIONAL
DIMIFICATIA
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosive Compounds.
I, GEORGE BENEKÉ, of Hazelhurst, Southport, in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of explosive com-
pounds of the nitrate of ammonium type, that is to say, explosives which have
nitrate of ammonium for a basis. A feature of this invention consists in the
specially prepared carbon carrier incorporated with ammonium nitrate whereby
explosives of greater force are produced with are perfectly safe to manufacture
A further advantage of the invention is that the use of sensitive
oxidizing agents, such for example as chlorate of potash with nitrate of ammonium
is thereby rendered practicable without risk from friction, percussion or crystal-
lizing out.
and handle.
In my experiments on nitrate of soda and nitrate of potash explosives I have
used a kind of single and double coated oxidizing agent in the form of a special
carbon carrier to ensure safety, and for the better ignition of the mixture, but
I have now discovered that I can use the specially prepared carbon carrier as
hereinafter described with ammonium nitrate in order to produce safe explosives
which are from about three to four times more powerful than explosives having
nitrate of soda and nitrate of potash for a basis.
The characteristic feature of the specially prepared carbon carrier which I
employ is that each particle of a most highly sensitive oxidizing agent (e.g. a
chlorate or a permanganate) is provided with a kind of double carbonaceous
protective coating, this coating serving as a bed or buffer to protect the oxidizing
agent against friction or percussion, and it prevents crystallizing out and renders
the mixing with ammonium nitrate safe. A less sensitive oxidizing agent, but
also requiring great care in the mixing with ammonium nitrate, for instance a
chromate or a bichromate or chromium compound I may only give one effective
coating from any of the carbonaceous or hydrocarbon materials hereafter
described.
In order to impart such a kind of double coating to the oxidizing agent, I
may take any two suitable carbonaceous materials or hydrocarbons, as for in-
stance resin and pitch, which should however melt at different temperatures, or
have sufficiently different solubilities, for instance if the coats are to be applied
by melting the melting point of the one substance should be about 50° to 60° F.,
or even higher, than the other. Hydrocarbons or carbonaceous materials con-
taining sulphur should, however, not be employed with chlorate. The coating
having the highest melting point or least solubility is first applied, and then
the other.
Or I may employ solutions of carbohydrates such as starch, dextrin, nitrated

page_text: starch or nitrated dextrin for either or both coatings, or other suitable or similar
carbohydrates these may be applied singly or mixed together with or without
drying oils.
I may also employ additional free carbon, such as finely ground charcoal, in
conjunction with one or both protective coatings, according to the amount of
available carbon contained in the coating material, and as may be required. A
less powerful, but safe and improved explosive, may also be produced without the
addition of the specially prepared carbon carrier. by treating the ammonium
nitrate with colophony in the particular manner hereafter described.
My invention will be fully understood from the following typical examples.
In speaking of "parts" in the first three examples, I mean parts of a total
of 100 parts of the finished explosive with ammonium nitrate.
1ST EXAMPLE.
I proceed to make the specially prepared carrier of carbon. For this purpose
I dissolve about 5 to 10 parts of a resin of a melting point of about 200° to
220° F. until it is in a fluid state, taking care that the temperature is never
appreciably higher (or a suitable solvent may be used) and stir into it 10 to
25 parts of finely powdered chlorate of potash, with or without 2 to 5 parts of
finely powdered free carbon the mixture is constantly stirred until the in-
gredients have been thoroughly mixed and each particle is surrounded with the
resin. The mixture is then dried or evaporated and triturated or ground to a
fine powder, preferably in a slowly revolving drum with wooden balls, or to
effect a good coating I may proceed in any other suitable manner using any other
suitable material of the kind named.
To the ultimate dry powder I then add about 5 to 10 parts of dissolved pitch,
which will melt at a temperature of about 140 to 160° F. or about 5 to 10 parts
of other suitable carbonaceous or hydrocarbon material which will melt at a
similar or lesser temperature than 140 to 160° F.; or I may employ 5 to 10
paris of starch or dextrin or both, nitrated or non-nitrated, with or without
drying oils of the kind mentioned. I may at this point also add 2 to 5 parts of
finely powdered free carbon or more according to the amount of available carbon
in the coating material selected.
The ingredients are again thoroughly mixed in such a manner that each
particle is as well as possible surrounded by the second coating material and then
reduced to a powder.
2ND EXAMPLE.
When I require a less powerful explosive I do not employ chlorate, otherwise
I proceed in the same manner as Example 1 but do not use such large proportions
of a permanganate as of chlorate, and I also use smaller proportions of the car-
bonaceous or hydrocarbon coating material with or without 2 to 5 parts of
free carbon. I have found 2 to 7 parts of a permanganate and 2 to 5 parts of
carbonaceous, or hydrocarbon material for each of the two coating materials to
be ample.
3RD EXAMPLE.
When I require another less powerful explosive which has the same advan-
tage of safety in manufacture and handling, I coat 2 to 5 parts of a chromate,
bichromate or chromium compound with about 2 to 5 parts of one of the before
mentioned carbonaceous or hydrocarbon materials.
I now proceed to subject the nitrate of ammonium to the following preferred
treatment before incorporating it with the specially prepared carbon carrier.
About 93 to 97 parts of nitrate of ammonia and 5 to 7 parts of colophony
which may be previously ground and mixed (in this case to make the two into
100 parts) are heated to a temperature of 210° to 240° F. until the colophony
is thoroughly dissolved and an intimate mixture has been made. The material

page_text: is then cooled and ground to a fine powder, and finally the powdered specially
prepared carbon carrier as per first example containing chlorate is thoroughly
mixed with 60 to 80 parts of finely powdered treated ammonium nitrate to make
the finished explosive up to 100 parts: or the powdered specially prepared
carbon carrier as per second and third examples having an oxidizing agent
other than chlorate may be finally mixed with about 92 parts or less treated
ammonium nitrate and more of the particular carbon carriers so as always to
make the total finished explosives to 100 parts in the manner stated.
It will be understood however that it is not essential to subject the ammonium
nitrate to the preferred treatment above described before incorporating it with
the specially prepared carbon carriers.
When however the ammonium nitrate is treated with colophony in the
manner described it will be found that a most intimate safe and improved explo-
sive mixture has been secured, which has none of the drawbacks of particles of
carbonaceous material sticking together, when the previously pulverized in-
gredients are heated until the carbonaceous material beings to melt, a process
which is faulty and makes the explosive action unreliable. Although weaker
than the mixture with the specially treated carbon carrier, it can be employed
with advantage in many mining operations and always be relied upon for uni-
formity of action.
Thated this lot
of Wh 1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
provements in the Manufacture of ExProSIVE Compounds.
I, GEORGE BENEKÉ, of Hazelhurst, Southport, in the County of Lancaster,
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 the manufacture of explosive compounds of the
nitrate of ammonium type, that is to say, explosives which have nitrate of
ammonium for a basis. A feature of this invention consists in the specially
prepared carbon carrier incorporated with ammonium nitrate, whereby explosives
of greater force are produced which are perfectly safe to manufacture and handle.
A further advantage of the invention is that the use of sensitive oxidizing agents,
such for example as chlorate of potash with nitrate of ammonium is thereby
rendered practicable without risk from friction, percussion, or crystallizing out.
In my experiments on nitrate of soda and nitrate of potash explosives I have
used a kind of single and double-coated oxidizing agent in the form of a special
carbon carrier to ensure safety, and for the better ignition of the mixture, but
I have now discovered that I can use the specially prepared carbon carrier as
hereinafter described with ammonium nitrate in order to produce safe explo-
sives which are from about three to four times more powerful than explosives
having nitrate of soda and nitrate of potash for a basis.
The characteristic feature of the specially prepared carbon carrier which I
employ is that each particle of a most highly sensitive oxidizing agent (e.g. a
chlorate or a permanganate) is provided with a kind of double carbonaceous pro-
tective coating, this coating serving as a bed or buffer to protect the oxidizing
agent against friction or percussion, and it prevents crystallizing out and renders
the mixture with ammonium nitrate safe. A less sensitive oxidizing agent,
but also requiring great care in the mixing with ammonium nitrate, for instance

page_text: a chromate or a bichromate or chromium compound I may give a double coating
with any of the carbonaceous or hydrocarbon materials hereinafter described, or
it may be only a single coating.
In order to impart such a kind of double coating to the oxidizing agent, I may
take any two suitable carbonaceous materials or hydrocarbons, such for instance
as resin and pitch, which should however melt at different temperatures, or
have sufficiently different solubilities; for instance, if the coats are to be applied
by melting, the melting point of the one substance should be about 500 to 60° F.,
or even higher, than the other. Hydrocarbons or carbonaceous materials con-
taining sulphur should, however, not be employed with chlorate. The coating
having the highest melting point or the least solubility is first applied and then
the other.
Or I may employ solutions of carbohydrates such as starch, dextrin, nitrated
starch or nitrated dextrin, for either or both coatings, or other suitable or
similar carbohydrates; these may be applied singly or mixed together with or
without drying oils.
I may also employ additional free carbon, such as finely ground charcoal, in
conjunction with one or both protective coatings, according to the amount of
available carbon contained in the coating material, and as may be required.
A less powerful, but safe and improved explosive, may also be produced with-
out the addition of the specially prepared carbon carrier, by treating the
ammonium nitrate with colophony in the particular manner hereafter described.
My invention will be fully understood from the following typical examples.
In speaking of "parts" in the first three examples, I mean parts of a tofal
of 100 parts of the finished explosive with ammonium nitrate.
1ST EXAMPLE.
I proceed to make the specially prepared carrier of carbon. For this purpose
I dissolve about 5 to 10 parts of a resin of a melting point of about 200° to
220° F. until it is in a Huid state, taking care that the temperature is never
appreciably higher (or a suitable solvent may be used) and stir into it 10 to
25 parts of finely powdered chlorate of potash, with or without 2 to 5 parts of
finely powdered free carbon; the mixture is constantly stirred until the in-
gredients have been thoroughly mixed and each particle is surrounded with the
resin. The mixture is then dried or evaporated and triturated or ground to a
fine powder, preferably in a slowly revolving drum with wooden balls, or to
effect a good coating I may proceed in any other suitable manner using any other
suitable material of the kind named.
To the ultimate dry powder I then add about 5 to 10 parts of dissolved pitch,
which will melt at a temperature of about 140° to 160° F. or about 5 to 10 parts
of other suitable carbonaceous or hydrocarbon material which will melt at a
similar or lesser temperature than 140° to 160° F. or I may employ 5 to 10
parts of starch or dextrin or both, nitrated or non-nitrated, with or without
drying oils of the kind mentioned. I may at this point also add 2 to 5 parts of
finely powdered free carbon or more, according to the amount of available carbon
in the coating material selected.
The ingredients are again thoroughly mixed in such a manner that each
particle is as well as possible surrounded by the second coating material, and then
reduced to a powder.
2ND EXAMPLE.
When I require a less powerful explosive I do not employ chlorate, but per-
manganate, otherwise I proceed in the same manner as Example 1 but do not use
such large proportions of a permanganate as of chlorate, and I also use smaller
proportions of the carbonaceous or hydrocarbon coating material with or without
2 to 5 parts of free carbon. I have found 2 to parts of a permanganate and
2 to 5 parts of carbonaceous or hydrocarbon material for each of the two coating
materials to be ample.

page_text: 3RD EXAMPLE.
When I require another less powerful explosive which has the same advan-
tage of safety in manufacture and handling I coat 21 to 5 parts of a chromate,
bichromate or chromium compound, first with about 2 parts of resin and then
with about 2 parts of pitch. Or I may apply a single coating of 2 to 5 parts of
one of the before mentioned carbonaceous or hydrocarbon materials.
I now proceed to subject the nitrate of ammonium to the following preferred
treatment before incorporating it with the specially prepared carbon carrier.
About 93 to 97 parts of nitrate of ammonium and 5 to 7 parts of colophony,
which may be previously ground and mixed (in this case to make the two into
100 parts) are heated to a temperature of 210° to 240° F. until the colophony
is thoroughly dissolved and an intimate mixture has been made. The material
is then cooled and ground to a fine powder, and finally the powdered, specially
prepared carbon carrier as per first example, containing chlorate, is thoroughly
mixed with 60 to 80 parts of finely powdered treated ammonium nitrate to make
the finished explosive up to 100 parts; or the powdered specially prepared
carbon carrier as per second and third examples, having an oxidizing agent
other than chlorate, may be finally mixed with about 92 parts or less of treated
ammonium nitrate and more of the particular carbon carriers so as always to
make the total finished explosives to 100 parts in the manner stated,
It will be understood however that it is not essential to subject the ammonium
nitrate to the preferred treatment above described before incorporating it with
the specially prepared carbon carriers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be under-
stood that I am aware that prior to the date of my application it has been pro-
posed to employ a mixture of ammonium nitrate, resin, and a chromium com-
pound or other oxidizing agent, in the manufacture of explosives and I do not
claim the use of such ingredients apar from my process, but I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The employment in and for the manufacture of a nitrate of ammonium
explosive, of a specially prepared carbon carrier obtained by treating a sensitive
oxidizing agent such for example as a chlorate or a permanganate, with a double
coating of carbonaceous materials or hydrocarbons, such for example as pitch
and resin, with or without the addition of free carbon substantially as described.
2. In and for the preparation of a special carbon carrier of the kind and for
the purpose referred to in Claim 1, the employment for a coating material of
solutions of carbohydrates such as starch, dextrin, nitrated starch or nitrated
dextrin, with or without drying oils, and with or without free carbon, substan-
tially as described.
3. The method or process of preparing a special carbon carrier for use in the
manufacture of nitrate of ammonium explosives, substantially as described in
Example 1 hereof.
4. The method or process of preparing a special carbon carrier for use in the
manufacture of nitrate of ammonium explosives, substantially as described in
Example 2 hereof.
5. The method or process of preparing a special carbon carrier for use in the
manufacture of nitrate of ammonium explosives, substantially as described in
Example 3 hereof.
6. The manufacture of improved explosive compounds comprising the special
carbon carrier and ammonium nitrate, substantially as described.
1
1
S+
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
5.5 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.