A New Manufacture of Explosives.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Manufacture of Explosives.
I, MAX REULAND, of Dortmund, Germany; Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object the manufacture of explosives.
For this purpose naphthalene is melted and mixed with, nitrate of ammonia, or
with humate of ammonia. The product obtained in each case is, after cooling
pulverized, or divided into smaller hollow bodies, or formed into a plastic mass by
the addition thereto of fatty acids or solid hydro-carbons or tyrosine.
When nitrate of ammonia is employed for the preparation of the explosive, it can be
advantageously prepared, otherwise than in the usual way, as follows:-About
132 parts of sulphate of ammonia are dissolved in water and heated, and about
211-5 parts of nitrate of strontia are similarly dissolved and heated, and the two
solutions mixed together. By this means about 183-5 parts of sulphate of strontia
are precipitated, and about 160 parts of uitrate of ammonia remain in solution..
This reaction may be illustrated by the following formula :-
(NH,),SO, + Sr(NO,),= 2(NH,NO,) + SrSO,.
The solution of nitrate of ammonia is draw off, evaporated and the salt
crystallized out. The sulphate of strontia obtained is re-converted into nitrate of
strontia by means of dilute nitric acid in the usual manner. By this process the
production of nitrate of ammonia is rendered very cheap, because the strontium
compound can be re-used again and again.
When humate of ammonia is employed in the production of the explosive it can
advantageously be made from peat or similar substances. For this purpose the
peat is first lixiviated with hot water or steam. The liquor thus obtained is
saturated with carbonate of potash and the resulting solution is neutralized with an
acid. By this means a precipitate is obtained consisting of humate of ammonia.'"
If the explosive bodies prepared from nitrate of ammonia or humate of ammonia
and naphthalene are to be employed as explosives without admixture with other
substances the quantity of naphthalene used should bear such a proportion to the
ammonium salt as will cause complete combustion of the compound when the same
is exploded. The proportions of the mixture depend on the nature of the result to
be obtained.
Naphthalene has the property of penetrating anhydrous nitrate of ammonia in
such a manner that it combines with the smallest particles of the same, and the
resulting compound remains unaltered even in air saturated with moisture, so that
its explosive action is not injuriously affected by moist air.
Humate of ammonia prepared as described has the property, especially when
combined with naphthalene, of not dissolving in cold water.
When it is desired to increase the explosive power of the explosive compounds
prepared as hereinbefore described, anothor hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon and
oxygen carrier is or are added as in the case of other explosives, for the purpose of
improving the formation of gas and reducing the production of flame when the
compound is exploded.
•
Explosives manufactured according to this invention can be exploded only by
means of a very intense thin flame. They are therefore unaffected by falling
shock, and change of temperature. The flame due to the explosion will not ignite
combustible substances with which it comes in contact; consequently the ignition
of coal dust and the like in mines cannot take place when such explosives are used
therein. Furthermore on explosion no acid' gases are produced.

page_text: The new explosives are consequently, distinguished from others heretofore
produced by the properties and advantages before mentioned' and also particularly
by the fact that they can be handled or transported without danger.
Dated this Athildaz:of. Julb-1891*
M. REULAND,
By L. W., per F. B.

page_text: formation of gas and reducing the production of flame when the compound is
exploded. The explosive power of the new compounds may also be diminished- if
necessary by the addition thereto of a suitable hydrocarbon.
When it is desired to make the explosive in the form of a plastic mass as 'herein-
before mentioned; 20% to 50% of a fatty acid as for example nitric glycerine-ester
is added to a mixture of 75% of naphthalene and.50% of nitrate of ammonia.
Naphthalene has the property of penetrating anhydrous nitrate of ammonia in
such a manner that it combines with the smallest partioleu of the same, and the
resulting compound remains unaltered even in air saturated with moisture, so that
its explosive action is not injuriously affected by moist air.
Explosives manufactured according to this invention can be exploded only by
means of a very intense thin flame produced for example by means of a strong
capsule of fulminating mercury. They are therefore unaffected by falling, shock,.
and change of temperature. The flame due to their explosion will not ignite
combustible substances with which it comes in contact; consequently the ignition
of coal dust and the like in mines cannot take place when such explosives are used
therein.
Furthermore, on explosion, no acid gases are produced.
The new explosives are consequently distinguished from others heretofore
produced by the properties and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and also
particularly by the fact that they can be handled or transported without danger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of a new explosive by mixing melted naphthalene with
nitrate of ammonia produced by preference from sulphate of ammonia and nitrate
of strontin in the manner described whereby the nitrate of ammonia loses the
property of being hygroscopic and the explosive is not injuriously affected by
moist air.
2. The manufacture of a new explosive by mixing melted naphthalene with
humate of aminonia produced from peat and the like. by lixiviating the same,
saturating the resulting liquor with a carbonate of an alkali, and neutralizing with
acid, whereby the resulting humate of ammonia is rendered insoluble in cold
water.
3. The new manufacture of explosives prepared according to the preceding
claims, whether alone, or with another hydrocarbon, or with a bydrocarbon and an
oxygen-carrier substantially as herein described for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of October 1891.
MAX REULAND,
By L. W., per F. B.