Year: 1897

page_text: I, ERNEST AUGUSTE GEORGE STREET, of 95, Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to the manufacture of an improved explosive,
which is little sensitive to shocks is easily manufactured and resists heat and
humidity.
I have found in the course of experiments that nitrated derivatives of organic
substances (mono nitrates, binitrates, trinitrates, etc.) are soluble in animal and
vegetable oils and fats, while they are not at all or very slightly soluble in mineral
oil and fats, such as vaseline and paraffine.
These solutions of nitro-compounds in oil crystallize if slowly cooled.
By cooling them rapidly and by stirring a pasty substance on the contrary is
obtained, the consistency of which varies according to the proportion of oil and of
nitro-compound, and which is perfectly suitable for being mixed with chlorate of
potash alone or with hydro-carbonated or carbonated substances such as starch,
fecula etc.
The mixture of these different substances under the conditions indicated gives
a plastic explosive easily moulded, little sensitive to shocks or blows, to humidity
and heat, and possessing an explosive power which, according to experiments can
be from 6 to 10 times that of black blasting powder.
The nitro-compounds experimented with are of two kinds (1), liquid, as nitro-
benzine.
(2) Solid, as nitro-napthaline, binitrobenzine, picric acid.
The proportions of the different bodies may of course vary according to the
force resistance to shock etc. of the explosive that is to be obtained. By way of
example the following formulæ are given.

page_text: To effect the mixture the nitro-compound is first dissolved in the oil at a tem-
perature of from about 40° to 60°, then starch or carbon is gradually added to it,
and finally the chlorate of potash.
In such conditions the mixing can be effected very easily, and is not dangerous.
In the examples only castor-oil is mentioned but all other vegetable or animal
oils or fats give similar results.
Several nitro-compounds mixed may also be employed dissolved in oil.
It has also been found that certain nitro-compounds may form with each other
combinations which may be used in the same manner; among these combinations
may be mentioned that of nitro naphtaline and picric acid, that of nitro benzine
and picric acid, that of nitronaphtaline and nitrobenzine etc.
Dated this 21st day of April 1897.
BOULT & WADE,.
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Explosives.
I, ERNEST AUGUSTE GEORGE STREET, of 95, Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris,
in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to the manufacture of an improved explosive
which is little sensitive to shocks is easily manufactured and resists heat and
humidity.
I have found in the course of experiments that nitrated derivatives of organic
substances (mono nitrates, binitrates, trinitrates, etc.) are soluble in animal and
vegetable oils and fats, while they are not at all or very slightly soluble in mineral
oil and fats, such as vaseline and paraffine.
These solutions of nitro-compounds in oil crystallise if slowly cooled.
By cooling them rapidly and by stirring, a pasty substance on the contrary is
obtained, the consistency of which varies according to the proportion of oil and of
nitro-compound, and which is perfectly suitable for being mixed with chlorate of
potash alone or with hydrocarbonated or carbonated substances such as starch,
fecula etc.
The mixture of these different substances under the conditions indicated gives
a plastic explosive easily moulded, little sensitive to shocks or blows, to humidity
and heat, and possessing an explosive power which, according to experiments, can
be from 6 to 10 times that of black blasting powder.
The nitro-compounds experimented with are of two kinds.
1) Liquid, as nitro-benzine.
2) Solid, as nitro-napthaline, binitrobenzine, picric acid.
The proportions of different bodies may, of course, vary according to the force,

page_text: Starch
40
23
To effect the mixture, the nitro compound is first dissolved in the oil at a tem-
perature of from about 40° to 60° then starch or carbon is gradually added to it,
and finally the chlorate of potash.
In such conditions the mixing can be effected very easily and is not attended
with danger.
In the examples only castor-oil is mentioned, but all other vegetable or animal
cils or fats give the same result.
Several nitro-compounds mixed may also be employed dissolved in the oil.
It has also been found that certain nitro-compounds may form with each other
combinations which may be used in the same manner; among these combinations
may be mentioned that of nitro-naphthaline and picric acid, that of nitro-benzinę
and pieric acid, that of nitronaphthaline and nitrobenzine etc.
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. The method of manufacturing explosive substances consisting in dissolving
in vegetable or animal oil or fat one or more organic nitro-compounds and mixing
one or more of the paste-like substances so obtained either with chlorate of potash
alone or with chlorate of potash with the addition of hydrocarbonated or carbonated
material substantially as described.
2. As a new product the explosive substances obtained by the process substan-
tially as described.
3. A new explosive consisting of a mixture of nitro-naphtaline, or binitro
benzene, or picric acid with castor oil, chlorate of potash and starch substantially
as described.
Dated this 1st day of February 1898.
BUULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.