Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives for Industrial and Projectile Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONALL
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives for Industrial and
Projectile Purposes.
We ALFRED JOHN CAMPION of High Cliff Hotel, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent,
Chemist and JOHN EDWARD TENISON-WOODS of No. 263 Camberwell New Road,
London, Civil and Chemical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist in the manufacture of new smokeless and com-
paratively noiseless explosives of great power, safe to handle, and store and suitable
for blasting and projectile and other purposes.
We first manufacture nitrate of ammonia NH.NO, by new and economical
processes.
First. Nitrate of soda (commonly known as Chili saltpetre) is dissolved in hot
Chloride of
water in the proportion of 85 pounds or parts to 100 of water.
ammonia (commonly known as sal ammoniac) is dissolved in a separate vessel in
the proportion of 62 parts or pounds to 100 of water also heated. The two
solutions are mixed together in a large evaporating pan of stone ware or thin
A double
tinned copper heated by a steam jacket or other suitable means.
decomposition takes place, the chlorine of the chloride of ammonia combines with
the soda of the nitrate of soda forming common salt, and the nitric acid of the
nitrate of soda combines with the ammonia of the chloride of ammonia forming
nitrate of ammonia. These two salts are separated by evaporation. The nitrate
of ammonia being very soluble in a small quantity of boiling water while the
solubility of the common salt not sensibly increased by the heating of its solution
and it consequently falls to the bottom of the evaporating pan as a crystalline
powder as the evaporation proceeds and is removed by perforated scoops or ladles
while the nitrate of ammonia remains dissolved in the hot mother liquor. The
nitrate of ammonia solution is then evaporated to dryness, care being taken to
avoid an elevated temperature as the nitrate of ammonia is decomposed below a red
heat. The nitrate of ammonia is purified from the last traces of chloride of sodium
by recrystalization or washing if found necessary.
Our second method of manufacturing nitrate of ammonia consists of dissolving
chloride of calcium (a refuse from some chemical works) in hot water in the
proportion of 60 parts or pounds of chloride of calcium to 40 parts or pounds of
water. This solution is then mixed with a hot solution of 85 parts or pounds of
nitrate of soda in 100 of water. Double decomposition takes place and nitrate of
lime and common salt are produced. Almost the whole of the common salt will be
deposited in the pan or vessel as a crystalline powder owing to its inferior
solubility and the nitrate of lime will remain dissolved in the hot liquor. Further
evaporation will remove the last traces of common salt from the nitrate of lime.
The saturated solution of nitrate of lime so produced is mixed with a solution of
carbonate or sulphate of ammonia. If commercial carbonate of ammonia is used in
the proportion of 59 parts or pounds of the salt to 150 parts or pounds of water
double decomposition occurs, insoluble carbonate of lime falls to the bottom of the
vessel and nitrate of ammonia remains in solution which is carefully evaporated to
dryness to obtain the solid salt.
If sulphate of ammonia is used the nitrate of lime solution made as above
described is added to a solution of the commercial sulphate of ammonia in the
In this case also double
proportion of 66 parts of the salt to 150 parts of water.
decomposition takes place, sulphate of lime is precipitated in an insoluble powder
and nitrate of ammonia remains in the solution which is evaporated to dryness as
above described to obtain the solid salt.
In manufacturing our explosives the nitrate of ammonia made by either of the

page_text: above methods is pulverized and thoroughly dried in a steam pan and to each
80 parts or pounds of the salt 18 parts or pounds of a mixture of solid hydro-
carbons are added such as paraffin wax, ozokerite, or camphor dissolved in two
thirds of its weight of bisulphide of carbon. The ingredients are thoroughly
incorporated together by any suitable mechanical means such as a pug mill or in a
revolving barrel. The mixture will be adhering together in lumps of various sizes
which can be granulated to any degree of fineness by crushing and sifting. The
grains may then be mixed with about 3 per cent. of their weight of powdered
bicarbonate of ammonia by which treatment the condition of the new explosive is
improved. The above mixture is called by us N Powder No. 1.
It is non-
hydroscopic.
The second modification of our explosive we call N Powder No. 2, and is made
by mixing 80 parts or pounds of the dried nitrate of ammonia with 8 parts or
pounds of fine powdered sulphur, 6 parts or pounds of finely powdered charcoal,
and 7 parts or pounds of melted hydro-carbons such as ozokerite or paraffin wax or
other similar solid and easily fusible hydro-carbon. The powdered nitrate of
ammonia sulphur and charcoal are first thoroughly mixed and then the melted
hydro-carbon is added and the whole incorporated in a pug mill or by other suitable
means into an even and homogeneous mass. It is then broken up into grains of
suitable size and is ready for use.
The third modification of our explosive is called N Powder No. 3. It is made
by using 80 parts or pounds of dried nitrate of ammonia with 4 parts or pounds of
powdered sulphur, 6 parts of powdered bicarbonate of ammonia 6 parts or pounds
of powdered charcoal and 7 parts or pounds of solid fusible hydro-carbon as before
mentioned. The nitrate and bicarbonate of ammonia with the sulphur and charcoal
are first sifted together or thoroughly mixed in any suitable way and the melted
hydro-carbon then added and the whole thoroughly incorporated together. After
granulation the powder does not absorb water.
The fourth modification of our explosive is called N Powder No. 4, and consists
of 80 pounds of nitrate of ammonia, 12 pounds of powdered sulphur and 4 pounds of
solid fusible hydro-carbon as above described.
The nitrate and sulphur are first mixed together as before mentioned and the
melted hydro-carbon subsequently added and the whole thoroughly incorporated
and granulated. Sometimes modifications in the relative proportions of the
ingredients above mentioned may be made to suit certain special circumstances and
applications, and for the powdered charcoal lampblack may be substituted with
advantage. When the quantity of solid hydrocarbons used is very small, and
where it is only intended to protect the materials from acquiring damp or moisture,
the same may be dissolved in a suitable volatile menstruum such as alcohol,
ether, naptha, et cetera, which after the incorporation of the materials is complete
may be driven off by gentle steam heat.
Dated thi
1
1000
ALFRED JOHN CAMPION.
JOHN EDWARD TENISON-WOODS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives for Industrial and
Projectile Purposes.
We ALFRED JOHN CAMPION of High Cliff Hotel, Cliftonville, Margate in the
County of Kent, Chemist, and JOHN EDWARD TENISON-WOODS of 16 Eastlake
Road Brixton London in the County of Surrey, Civil and Chemical Engineer (late
of No. 263 Camberwell New Road London) 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 :-
Our improvements consist in the manufacture of a new smokeless and com-

page_text: paratively noiseless explosive of great power; safe to handle, and store, and suitable
for blasting and projectile and other purposes.
We first manufacture nitrate of ammonia (NH,NO,) by new and economical
processes.
Firstly Nitrate of soda (commonly known as Chili saltpetre) is dissolved in hot
water in the proportion of 85 pounds or parts to 100 of water. Chloride of ammonia
-commonly known as sal ammoniac-is dissolved in a separate vessel in the
proportion of 62 parts or pounds to 100 of water also heated. The two solutions
are mixed together in a large evaporating pan of stone ware or of thin tinned
copper heated by a steam jacket or other suitable means. A double decomposition
takes place, the chlorine of the chloride of ammonia combines with the soda of the
nitrate of soda forming chloride of sodium (common salt) and the nitric acid of
the nitrate of soda combines with the ammonia of the chloride of ammonia
forming nitrate of ammonia. These two salts are separated by evaporation: the
nitrate of ammonia being very soluble in a small quantity of boiling water, while
the solubility of the chloride of sodium is not sensibly increased by the heating of
its solution, and it consequently falls to the bottom of the evaporating pan as a
crystalline powder as the evaporation proceeds and is removed by perforated
scoops or ladles while the nitrate of ammonia remains dissolved in the hot mother
liquor.
The nitrate of ammonia solution is then carefully evaporated to dryness. The
nitrate of ammonia is purified from the last traces of chloride of sodium by
recrystalization or washing if found necessary.
Our second method of manufacturing nitrate of ammonia consists of dissolving
chloride of calcium (a refuse from some chemical works) in hot water in the
proportion of 60 parts or pounds of chloride of calcium to 40 parts or pounds
of water. This solution is then mixed with a hot solution of 85 parts or pounds of
nitrate of soda in 100 of water. Double decomposition takes place, and nitrate of
lime and common salt are produced. Almost the whole of the common salt will be
deposited in the pan or vessel as a crystalline powder, owing to its inferior solubility
and the nitrate of lime will remain dissolved in the hot liquor. Further evaporation
will remove the last traces of common salt from the nitrate of lime. The saturated
solution of nitrate of lime so produced is mixed with a solution of carbonate or
sulphate of ammonia.
If commercial carbonate of ammonia is used in the proportion of 59 parts or
pounds of the salt to 150 parts or pounds of water, double decomposition occurs;
insoluble carbonate of lime falls to the bottom of the vessel and nitrate of ammonia
remains in solution, which is carefully evaporated to dryness to obtain the
solid salt.
If sulphate of ammonia is used to the nitrate of lime solution made as above
described is added to a solution of the commercial sulphate of ammonia in
the proportion of 66 parts of the salt to 150 parts of water: in this case also double
decomposition takes place; sulphate of lime is precipitated in an insoluble powder,
and nitrate of ammonia remains in the solution which is evaporated to dryness as
above described to obtain the solid salt.
In manufacturing our explosives the nitrate of ammonia made by either of the
above methods is pulverized, and thoroughly dried in a steam pan, and to each
80 parts or pounds of the salt 18 parts or pounds of a mixture of solid hydro-
carbons are added, such as paraffin wax, ozokerite or camphor dissolved in two
thirds of its weight of bisulphide of carbon. The ingredients are thoroughly
incorporated together by any suitable mechanical means, such as a pug mill" or
in a revolving barrel.
**
The mixture will be adhering together in lumps of various sizes, which can be
granulated to any degree of fineness by crushing and sifting. The grains may then
be mixed with about 3 per cent. of their weight of powdered bi-carbonate of
ammonia, by which treatment the condition of the new explosive is improved.
The above mixture is called by us N Powder No. 1. It is non-hydroscopic.

page_text: The second modification of our explosive we call N Powder No. 2, and is made
by mixing 80 parts or pounds of the dried nitrate of ammonia with 8 parts or
pounds of finely powdered sulphur, 6 parts or pounds of finely powdered charcoal,
and 7 parts or pounds of melted hydro-carbons such as ozokerite or paraffin wax
or other similar solid and easily fusible hydro-carbons.
The powdered nitrate of ammonia, sulphur, and charcoal are first thoroughly
mixed and then the melted hydro-carbon is added and the whole incorporated in a
pug mill" or by other suitable means into an even and homogeneous mass. It is
then broken up into grains of suitable size and is ready for use.
65
The third modification of our explosive is called N Powder No. 3. It is made
by mixing 80 parts or pounds of dried nitrate of ammonia with 4 parts or pounds of
powdered sulphur, 6 parts of powdered bi-carbonate of ammonia, 6 parts or pounds
of powdered charcoal, and 7 parts or pounds of solid fusible hydro-carbon as before
mentioned. The nitrate and bicarbonate of ammonia with the sulphur and charcoal
are first sifted together or thoroughly mixed in any suitable way and the melted
hydro-carbon then added and the whole thoroughly incorporated together. After
granulation, this powder does not absorb moisture.
The fourth modification of our explosive is called N Powder No. 4 and consists
of 80 pounds of nitrate of ammonia, 12 pounds of powdered sulphur, and 4 pounds
of solid fusible hydro-carbons as above described. The nitrate and sulphur are
first mixed together as before mentioned and the melted hydro-carbon subsequently
added and the whole thoroughly incorporated and granulated. Sometimes
modifications in the relative proportions of the ingredients above mentioned may be
made to suit certain or special circumstances and applications; and for the
powdered charcoal, lampblack may be substituted with advantage.
When the quantity of solid hydro-carbons used is very small, and where it is
only intended to protect the materials from acquiring damp or moisture the same
may be dissolved in a suitable volatile menstruum, such as alcohol, ether, naptha &c.
which after the incorporation of the materials is complete may be driven off by
gentle steam heat leaving the granules coated with an envelope of the hydro-
carbon used, rendering the explosive impervious to damp or moisture.
N Powder No. 1 is suitable for shells and projectiles.
N Powder No. 2 is suitable for blasting or heavy artillery, being of slow
combustion.
N Powder No. 3 is suitable for blasting and very heavy marine artillery being
slow of combustion and giving off large quantities of expansive gases.
N Powder No. 4 is suitable for small arms and fowling pieces, being quite
smokeless and almost noiseless with rapid combustion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The manufacture of nitrate of ammonia by double decomposition by the
processes substantially as set forth for the manufacture of explosives.
2. The admixture of nitrate of ammonia with the substances substantially as set
forth rendered non-hydroscopic by the combination with hydro-carbons as described
for all the purposes for which explosives are now used.
Dated this Third day of July 1891
ALFRED JOHN CAMPION.
JOHN EDWARD TENISON-WOODS.