Year: 1888

page_text: I, THÉODORE CHANDELON, of Liége, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Doctor of
Sciences 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 :-
In recent years various explosives have become known which are formed by mixing
nitrates and simple, nitrated or chloro-nitrated hydrocarburets, and which are
designed for mining operations. A class of compounds suited for the preparation of
explosives, and comprising organic picrates, especially picrates of aniline, or of simple,
nitrated and chloro-nitrated hydrocarburets has not heretofore been used. By mixing
these picrates with oxidizing mineral substances I have succeeded in manufacturing
explosives the power of which can be varied to such a great extent that, according to
the proportion of the substances mixed, suitable powders are obtained, some of which
are adapted for use in fire arms, others for mining and similar purposes, and others
for charging projectiles or shells.
The organic picrates are prepared according to known processes; it is however
advantageous in the preparation of picrates of simple, nitrated or chloro-nitrated
hydrocarburets to dissolve picric acid directly in hydrocarburet which is heated or
kept in fusion if it is solid at the ordinary temperature. The picrate of hydrocarburet
crystallizes by cooling. The picrates of hydrocarburet are of very great stability.
They do not at all possess the dangerous properties of picric acid, alkaline picrates or
metallic picrates, and they do not explode either through shocks or friction or sudden
elevation of temperature. Picric acid is therefore safe in these combinations without
losing its explosive properties. The mixture of one of these picrates and an alkaline
nitrate explodes with violence under the action of a fulminate and it presents the
advantage of generating a greater power than that which results from the explosion
of corresponding equivalent quantities in molecules of hydrocarburet and nitrate.
This latter mixture requires moreover, in order to explode, a much stronger charge of
fulminate.
As oxidizing substances I preferably employ ammonic, alkaline, or alkaline-earthy
nitrates, and ammonic, alkaline, or alkaline-earthy chlorates.

page_text: The explosives formed by mixing one or more organic picrates with one or more
nitrates and which 1 term nitrocatactines, are unaffected by shocks, friction and heat,
and they explode by fulminate.
The explosives which are formed by the mixing of one or more organic picrates
with one or more chlorates and which are termed chlorocatactines, explode more
easily than those previously mentioned and their effects are somewhat similar to those
of dynamite.
The explosives formed by the mixing of a nitrocatactine and a chlorocatactine, and
which I term nitrochlorocatactines, keep the medium between the two above-
mentioned kinds. They approach one or the other more or less according as they
contain more or less chlorate. By way of example the following compositions may be
mentioned.
(1) 1 part of picrate of benzol mixed with from 1.04 to 2.771 parts of ammonic
nitrate, or with equivalent quantities of sodic nitrate, barytic nitrate or other alkaline-
earthy nitrate.
(2) 1 part of picrate of mononitrobenzol mixed with from 0.9659 to 2.5355 parts
of sodic nitrate, or with equivalent quantities of ammonic nitrate, or other alkaline or
alkaline-earthy nitrate.
(3) 1 part of picrate of binitrobenzol mixed with from 0.806 to 3.325 parts of
ammonic nitrate or other alkalinė or alkaline-earthy nitrate.
(4) 1 part of picrate of mononitronaphthaline mixed with from 0.8376 to 5.5727
parts of ammonic nitrate or with equivalent quantities of other alkaline or alkaline-
earthy nitrate.
(5) Mixtures in which nitrate has been replaced, wholly or partly, by an alkaline
or alkaline-earthy chlorate. Such are for example the following compounds
In general the above mentioned proportions are those which are most suitable but
they can be varied according to the properties to be imparted to the explosive. In
order to modify the explosive in accordance with the use for which it is designed, I
prepare more complex mixtures, into the composition of which enter several picrates
of hydrocarburate or several alkaline or alkaline-earthy nitrates. In certain cases it 4
is necessary to incorporate with the mixture from 1 to 13 per cent of sulphur or from
1 to 13 per cent of carbon: Independently of the picrates of hydrocarburet mentioned
1 :

page_text: in the above examples, I also use picrates of trinitrobenzol, of naphthaline, of
binitrated and trinitrated naphthaline, of anthracene, aniline, and the like. Several of
these picrates of hydrocarburet can be mixed together.
In the selection of the oxidizing substance (alkaline or alkaline-earthy nitrates or
chlorates) it is not necessary to pay attention to their moisture. This considerable
advantage results from the fusibility of organic picrates and from the process which I
use in the preparation of the improved explosives.
This process is as follows; picrate of hydrocarburet is introduced into a boiler or
apparatus heated either by steam or by a current of hot water. The oxidizing
substances which are finely pulverized are then incorporated therewith, the whole
being stirred either mechanically or by hand through the medium of wooden stirrers
until the mixture has become homogeneous. Certain mixtures remain fluid enough
to be cast directly in moulds wherein they solidify. Others, which have become too
thick to be cast directly, are left to cool, are then crushed and granulated by the aid
of sieves or other suitable triturating apparatus. The grains thus obtained can,
according to the use for which the explosive is designed, be compressed into
cartridges.
The first materials (nitrate, chlorate, picric acid) can also be triturated separately
and added to the heated hydrocarburet, the mixture being then stirred; but this
mode of operation offers the inconvenience of not permitting the total combination
of the picric acid.
The advantages of the improved process are as follows;-
(1) For fire-arms; great penetrative power, little recoil, no smoke.
(2) For mining operations. Absence of flame, little smoke; production of in-
offensive gases; indifference to shocks and elevation of temperature; no congealing
at all like dynamites; explosion by the aid of a weaker fulminate than that employed
for causing the explosion of the mixtures of simple, nitrated or chloronitrated hydro-
carburets with oxidizing substances.
(3) For charging projectiles or shells; great power of rupture; compact solid
state of the cartridges to be introduced into the projectiles or shells; elevated density;
absence of reciprocal reaction between the iron and the explosive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;
First. The manufacture of explosives by the mixing of organic picrates, especially
picrates of simple, nitrated and chloro-nitrated hydrocarburets, alone or combined
with each other, with oxidizing substances, such as ammonic alkaline or alkaline-
earthy nitrates, potassic, ammonic or other chlorates, or other substance which
readily yields or gives up its oxygen, with or without the addition of sulphur or
carbon.
Second. The employment of these mixtures in the form of powder or grains or in
the form of cast or compressed cartridges.
EALייה -
L Cantom 188Q
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.