An Improved Manufacture of Explosives.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Explosives.
I, HANS RITTER VON DAIMEN of Castrop, Westphalia, Germany do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved manufacture of explosives, composed of
non nitrated and non oxidised hydrocarbons of the series with condensed
benzol nucleus or of oxidised saturated hydrocarbons in combination with
nitrates of ammonium, potassium, sodium or barium, with or without admixture
of chlorates.
For preparing these explosives I employ, for example, anthracene in combination
with ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and potassium chlorate; and I carry
out the practical manufacture as follows:
45 parts of ammonium nitrate and 44 parts of potassium nitrate are melted
together at 150° C., and after solidification are finely powdered.
8 parts of anthracene are preferably melted in a steam bath, and the finely
powdered mixture of ammonium and potassium nitrates is introduced under
continual stirring, the stirring being continued until the mixture is cold.
As soon as the mass is cold there are by preference added, to increase the
rupturing property thereof, about 3 parts of potassium chlorate.
The exact composition of the explosive is determined according as it may be
required to be more of a rupturing or more of a propelling nature, so that the
explosive can be accurately adapted to any required circumstances.
The greater the proportion of potassium nitrate the weaker will be the bursting
force and the greater the proportion of ammonium nitrate the greater will be the
bursting force.
The perfect security of this improved manufacture of explosives against ignition
by blows, concussion, friction, and heat (they will not even ignite at the
temperature of blast furnace gases) as also against the ignition thereby of fire-
damp or coal dust, combined with cheapness of manufacture, render their application
of great advantage.
Dated this 7th day of December 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, HANS RITTER VON DAHMEN, of Castrop, Westphalia, Germany, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved manufacture of explosives, composed of
non nitrated and non oxydised hydrocarbons of the series with condensed
benzol nucleus or of oxidised saturated hydrocarbons in combination with
nitrates of ammonium, potassium, sodium or barium, with or without admixture
of chlorates.

page_text: For preparing these explosives I employ, for example, anthracene in combination
with ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and potassium chlorate; and I carry
out the practical manufacture as follows:-
45 parts of ammonium nitrate and 44 parts of potassium nitrate are fused
together at 150° C., and the mass after solidification is finely powdered. This
powder is introduced into 8 parts of anthracene melted preferably in a steam bath,
with agitation which is continued until the mixture is cold.
As soon as the mass is cold there are by preference added, to increase the
rupturing property of the explosive, about 3 parts of potassium chlorate.
The composition of the explosive may be varied according as it is required to be
more of a rupturing or more of a propelling character.
The greater the proportion of potassium nitrate the weaker is the bursting
force and the greater the proportion of ammonium nitrate the greater is the
bursting force.
The perfect security of explosives thus manufactured against ignition by blows,
concussion, friction, and heat (for they do not ignite even at the temperature of
blast furnace gases) as also against the ignition of fire damp or coal dust, by
them combined with cheapness of manufacture, render their application of great
advantage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
―
The herein described manufacture of explosives by compounding ammonium and
potassium nitrates with anthracene, and with or without potassium chlorate.
Dated this 6th day of September 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.