IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
Year: 1884

page_text: I BELA BRONCS of Hainburger Strasse Vienna, Austria, Chemist do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS" to be as follows:-
The preparations of Nitroglycerine and Nitrocellulose hitherto used for blasting
purposes; when exploding develop, as is well known poisonous gases and have such
crushing effect upon the mineral, that their use for mining operations is in many
cases impracticable.
These evils in conjunction with the perils attending the manufacture storage and
manipulation of such explosives as above referred to have caused endeavours to
produce less dangerous explosives which are free from such disadvantages. In
relation with this, the alkaline salts of picric acid have been repeatedly proposed,
particularly the picrate of potassium but without much success as such compounds
are sensitive to concussion and blows and are not effective enough. Now I have
found that the picrate of soda forms double salts with other picrates which give
far better results as will appear from what follows :—
The double-compounds applicable for my purposes are chiefly sodic barium
picrate (sodic barium trinitrophenol).
2 (C, H. (N.O,), O) Ba + 3 (C. H₂ (N.O₂), Na O) + 10 H₂ O. and sodic picrate
of lead (sodic trinitrophenol of lead) 2 (C. H. (N.O₂), O) Pb + 3 (C, H. (N.O₂),
Na O) +10 H₂ O.
These compounds are produced by adding to a solution of one equivalent of
barium picrate, or of picrate of load (according as to whether one or the other
double salt is to be produced) a solution of three equivalents of sodium picrate.
On cooling of the solutions the double salt separates therefrom by crystallisation.
In a similar manner a series of double compounds of sodium picrate with other
picrates may be produced whilst the picrates of potassium and ammonium do not
enter into such combinations with other picrates.
To manufacture explosives from such double salts I use the same preferably in
combination with, picrate of potassium and Nitrated Naphthaline which is capable
of considerably reducing the rapidity of combustion and which may be used
generally in explosives containing picric acid or the salts thereof, and I moreover
add nitrate of potassium, sugar of any kind, gum and soot.
ro

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosive Compounds.
I BÉLA BRONCS of Oberdöbling, in the City of Vienna, Austria Engineer and
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS" and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of explosive
compounds.
The preparations of nitro-glycerine and nitro cellulose which have hitherto been
preferably employed for blasting purposes generated in exploding as is well known,
poisonous gases and exercise a disintegrating action on rock or stone so that the
employment of the same for mining purposes is often excluded-These disadvantages
of the said nitro-glycerine and nitro-cellulose compounds in connection with their
dangerous production, warehousing and handling explain the desire to produce less
dangerous blasting materials which do not possess the disadvantages mentioned
above.
For this purpose the alkaline salts of picric acid and especially the picrate of
potassium have been proposed but no success was obtained with the same as these.
compounds are very sensible as to blow and concussion and produce an insufficient
effect.
I have however discovered that the picrate of sodium forms double salts with
other picrates which give most excellent results as shown below.
The principal double salts which I employ for my purposes are Baryta-Sodium,
picrate or picrate of Baryta and Sodium (trinitrophenic acid of Baryta and Sodium)
2 (C H (NO) O, Ba) + 3 (C6 H* (NO')³ Na O) + 10 HO, and picrate of lead
and Sodium, (trinitrophenic acid of lead and Sodium) 2 (Cª H³ (NO³) 3 0 Pb) + 3
(Cª H³ (NO²)ª Na O) + 10 H³O.
These compounds are produced by adding 1 equivalent of picrate of baryta or
picrate of lead to a solution of 3 equivalents of picrate of sodium according to the
kind of double salt it is desired to produce.
When the solution is cooled the double salt will crystallise out of the same.
A series of double compounds of the picrate of sodium with another picrate can be
produced in a similar manner whereas the picrates of potassium and ammonium
will not form such compounds.
•
In order to produce blasting material or explosive compounds from these double
alts I prefer to employ the same in combination with picrate of potassium
O HK (NO) 0) and Nitronaphthalene (C" H' NO³) which considerably decreases
he rapidity of the combustion and can be generally used with blasting material or
compounds containing picric acid (C* H* N³ O' = 0° H³ (NO³) O³) or its salts and
further add Nitrate of Potassium (K. NO³) sugar of any kind, gum and pine soot
or lamp black,

page_text: a weak effect is to be produced.
These ingredients which are soluble in water are dissolved, the others pulverised
and added to the solution and then the water evaporated and the product dried.
The blasting powder or material so produced and termed "Bronolith" can be 1
made up into piecos of suitable size, granulated or formed into cartridges by
pressure.
Referring to the addition of nitronaphthalene through which the rapidity of the
combustion that is the releasing of the gas molecules in exploding is decreased or
slackened I must remark that this can only be attained by using a sufficient 2
quantity of highly nitrated naphthalene and only such material is intended for
general use in making my improved explosive compound.
My said improved explosive compound can be made as follows-1 part
Naphthalene (C10 H³) in melted condition is mixed with 2 parts of nitrate of
soda (Na NO) and 21 parts concentrated sulphuric acid (H³ SO₁) and kept at a 2
heat of about of about 90° Centigrade for two hours.
In this manner a compound is formed consisting of dinitronaphthalene
(C20 H N2 04) and mononitronaphthalene (C" H' NO³).
After the lapse of two hours I add 4 parts of nitrate of soda (Na NO³) and
5 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid (H³ S.O') and heat the same at a 3
temperature of 90° to 100° Centigrade for 10 hours and thus obtain the highly
nitrated Naphthalene which consists of di- tri- and tetranitro compounds.
Sulphate of Soda (Glauber's salt) Na³ SO* is formed as a bye product. The
adherent acids are removed by washing with warm or cold water.
The pure product, that is, the highly nitrated naphthalene, acts in two ways
during the explosion, on the one hand it produces an entire oxydation of the carbon
in consequence of the large quantity of oxygen it contains and also increases the
volume of gas whilst on the other hand the large quantity of nitrogen acts
advantageously so as to render the combustion of the explosive or blasting
compound slower.
The manufacture, storage and handling of my improved explosive compound
Bronolith is entirely without danger, its igniting temperature is between 300° and
320° Centigrade and the same can consequently be employed for filling bombs,
balls, Mines and such like to great advantage-spontaneous decomposition can
never ensue, and the presence of moisture up to 30%, or of cold, will not affect
the explosive power of the same so that my said explosive compound can be
employed in damp or moist places without requiring any further preparation.
One advantage which my improved explosive compound possesses is the enormous
quantity of gas generated by the explosion as will be seen from the following
table.
The gas generation by 760 millimetre pressure and 0° Centigrade is:-
1 Gramme Black Powder according to Bansen & Schisokoff-193-10 Cubic
1
centimetres gas.
do Nitroglycerine recording to l’'Hôte 284-60 Cubic centimetres gas.

page_text: The action or effect of my improved explosive compound in comparison with the
nitro glycerine and nitrocellulose compounds which possess too great destruction or
tearing power, is a driving or pushing and a less destructive or tearing action.
This circumstance and the increased generation of gas explains the reason why my
improved explosive compound when applied for mining purposes will bring down a
very much larger quantity of rock, stone or other material than the aforementioned
explosive compounds. The gases evolved at the explosion consist of carbonic
acid (C.O.) carbonic oxide (CO) Nitrogen (N) Hydrogen (H) and traces of
mithylated Hydrogen (Cª H') and contain further a considerable quantity of steam
as the double picrates contain water. These gaseous and steamy explosive products
are thus fully free from direct poisonous constitutents so that this new explosive
compound is sanitarily most decidedly preferable to all explosive compounds
hitherto known which latter produce nitric oxide (NO) or compounds of cyanic
and sulphuretted hydrogen.
The solid residue consistency of carbonate of baryta, oxide of lead, sodium and
potassium is very small and is hardly 1% of the entire ingredients.
As this new explosive compound can be exploded by means of a simple quick
match the employment of the dangerous caps with fulminate of mercury charge is
rendered unnecessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In manufacturing explosive compounds; the employment and application of
the double salt compounds of picrate of sodium with other picrates and especially
the picrates of Baryta and lead substantially as and for the purpose described in the
foregoing specification.
2. In explosive compounds which contain the compounds of double salts as
mentioned in the preceding claim or picric acid or its salts; the application and
employment of highly nitrated naphthalene for the purpose of obtaining on the one
hand the utmost possible oxidation of the carbon and on the other hand a slower
consumption of the explosive compound through the large quantity of nitrogen
contained in the same and for generally increasing the volume of gas evolved
substantially as described in the foregoing specification.
DL: SAL
11 100%