Coloured Fires.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
to Coloured Fires.
I, STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, D.C.L., of 120 Broadway in the City and State of
New York, United States of America, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
By experiments I have discovered crude picric acid subjected to the action of red
fuming nitric acid of about 152 specific gravity will dissolve with evolution of fumes
of a reddish colour and the solution when cooled will yield a crop of crystals. These
crystals which constitute an ingredient of my explosives and may be used for
other purposes I denominate "Emmens
"acid; which is a new crystalline acid
differing essentially from picric acid in its composition and in its relation and
properties.
The liquid which remains after said crystals have been deposited and removed will
yield, on standing, a second crop of like crystals and will deposit simultaneously a
quantity of lustrous flakes.
The said flakes heated in water separate into two new bodies, one of which enters
into solution and forms crystals unlike the above while the other body fuses and
remains below the water an undissolved residuum. These crystals and residuum are
also used as ingredients in some forms of my explosives.
"
By mixing the "Eminens" acid with these two new bodies" I form what I term
the Emmens" mixture, which with nitrates or chlorates will produce an explosive
compound more effective than is obtained by the use of picric acid when used in place
of said mixture.
The acids and residuum will combine, by fusion, with each other and with solid
or liquid hydro-carbons or with fusible hydro-carbon substitution derivatives of any

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II
series in which the fundamental hydro-carbon has the general formula C H²-
x being 6 or a multiple thereof.
When the said Emmens mixture is fused with nitrate of alkalies, and alkaline
carths a chemical re-action takes place as indicated by the disengagement of gases-
some with a peculiar odour and the complete liquifaction of the ingredients. This
liquid compound when solidified by cooling, will explode by action of a detonating
primer. This solidified compound may be reduced by pulverization and separation to
any desired degrees of fineness for use as gun powder or as a blasting explosive.
These solid and granulated explosives I denominate "Emmensite."
The proportions of ingredients used in the manufacture of "Emmensite" depend
upon the percentage of oxygen required for the complete combustion of the carbon
and hydrogen in the hydro-carbon derivative.
The combustion of powdered "Emmensite is slow and gentle when the nitrate
used in its manufacture is partly ammonium nitrate and when the balance of nitrate
used is capable of giving a coloured flame, for example strontium nitrate; said
explosive compound may also be used to produce coloured fire as it gives a brilliant
light with a minimum of smoke. The powdered "Emmensite" will absorb nitro-
glycerine should a combination of these substances be desirable.
The formula for the production of "Emmensite" may be varied to secure an
inexpensive compound adapted to the uses for which it is designed. The "Emmens"
crystalline acid, or its equivalent is however always used as an ingredient, and I have
proven that the ingredients in about the proportions and treated in substantially
the manner set forth in examples, A, B, C, D, E, produce new explosive compounds
of grades adapted to use under various conditions.
A-One pound of "Emmens" acid is first fused. One pound of ammonium
nitrate is then mixed with said acid and afterwards one fourth pound of finely powdered
dry sodium nitrate is incorporated. When these ingredients are entirely liquified.
another pound of ammonium nitrate is added and when complete liquifaction has taken
place the mass is thoroughly stirred and then allowed to cool. The resulting compound
is a solid explosive of great strength.
B: A mixture is first made by fusion of one pound of "Emmens" acid and of
cach of the other "two new bodies," and with this mixture are incorporated two
pounds of crude picric acid. Eight pounds of sodium nitrate are added to the mass
and the heat raised sufficiently to secure complete liquifaction. When bubbles of
red gas are evolved the reaction is complete and the liquid is then allowed to
cool. The resulting compound is a solid explosive of great strength and quick
action.
.
C-One pound of "Emmens” acid is mixed by fusion with five ounces of
napthaline. To this composition four pounds of sodium nitrate are added and the
heat raised sufficiently to secure complete liquifaction. The mass is then stirred
and allowed to cool. The resulting compound is an inexpensive and serviceable solid
explosive.
D-A mixture by fusion is made of one pound of "Emmons" acid with one
pound of crude picric acid and two pounds of strontium nitrate. Twelve ounces
of ammonium nitrate is added to said mixture and the heat is then raised to secure
complete liquifaction. The mass when cooled is reduced to a fine powder. This
compound is explosive by detonation but when ignited burns with a red flame.
E. A mixture is made of ninety five parts by weight of compound A and five
parts by weight of nitro-glycerine. The resulting compound is an explosive of quick
action and great power.
The said explosive compounds termed "Emmensite " are produced, it will be
observed by mixture of a combustible with an oxidant and the mixing may be done
when and where the explosives are used thereby avoiding all the risk incurred in the
transportation of other high explosives. The perfected "Eminensite" however will
not explode by, ignition and may safely be subjected to violent concussion and friction.
It is not injured by heat or cold and will not by long storage undergo decomposition
or other molecular change.

page_text: This explosive is economical compared with other explosives and being capable of
granulation may be made of quick or slow explosive power and is therefore adapted
for use as either a low or high explosive.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
The Preparation of Certain New Compounds from Picric Acid and
the Manufacture therefrom of Explosives, Partly Applicable also
to Coloured Fires.
I, STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, D.C.L., of 120 Broadway, in the City and State of
New York, United States of America, Chemist, 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 :-
The object of my invention is the production, by chemical combinations, of safe and
inexpensive explosive compounds which possess the shattering force of high explosives
and the propelling force of gunpowder.
By experiments I first discovered that crude picric acid, when subjected to the action
of red fumming nitric acid of about 1.52 specific gravity, would dissolve with evolution
of fumes of a reddish color, and the solution, when cooled, would yield a crop of
crystals. These crystals, which constitute an ingredient of my explosives, and may be
used for other purposes, I denominate "Emmens "acid. This is a new crystalline
acid differing essentially from picric acid in its composition and in its relations and
properties. The "Emmens" acid, when dried at a temperature above 100° Centigrade,
contains a greater proportion of hydrogen and yields, in combustion with oxide of
copper, about one half more water. It also melts at several degrees lower temperature
than picric acid, and is less soluble in cold water.
The liquor remaining after said crystals have been deposited and removed will yield
a second crop of like crystals, and will deposit simultaneously a quantity of lustrous
flakes. These flakes, heated in water, separate into two new bodies-one of which
enters into solution and forms crystals unlike the above, while the other body fuses
and remains below the water an undissolved residuum. These acid crystals and
residuum are also used as ingredients in my explosives.
The said crystals and residuum will combine forming what I denominate "Emmens"
mixture, which combined with nitrates or chlorates produces a powerful explosive

page_text: <<
The said mixture will combine with either the solid or liquid hydrocarbons, or with
fusible hydrocarbon substitution derivatives of any series in which the fundamental
hydrocarbon has the general formula C" H2-x, x being 6 or a multiple thereof. The
combination is effected by fusion, and the result is a homogeneous body with a
crystalline structure. When said Emmens" mixture or said homogeneous body"
is fused with nitrates of the alkalies or alkaline earths, a chemical reaction takes place,
as indicated by the disengagement of gases--some with a peculiar odor-and the
complete liquefaction of the ingredients. This liquid compound may be poured into
moulds, and, when solidified by cooling, will explode by action of a detonating primer.
The solidified compound may be reduced by pulverization and separation to any desired
degrees of fineness for use as gunpowder, or as a blasting explosive. By granula-
tion it may be prepared for use as a low or high explosive. The solid and
granulated explosives which contain "Emmens mixture or "Emmens" acid I
denominate "Emmensite."
"
The proportions of ingredients used in the manufacture of "Emmensite" depend
upon the percentage of oxygen required for the complete combustion of the carbon
and hydrogen in the hydrocarbon derivative. In case sodium nitrate is employed as
the oxidant, I have proven that increased explosive power is attained by the use of an
excess of 25 per cent. of nitrate above the theoretical quantity required, and an
excess of 35 per cent. may be used to advantage, provided sufficient coal, charcoal
or other carbonaceous body be added to utilize the available oxygen in the
compound.
The combustion of powdered "Emmensite" is slow and gentle when the nitrate used
in its manufacture is partly ammonium nitrate; and when the balance of nitrate used
is capable of giving a colored flame, for example strontium nitrate, said explosive
compound may also be used to produce colored fire as it gives a brilliant light with
a minimum of smoke. The powdered "Emmensite" will absorb nitro-glycerine
should a combination of these substances be desirable.
33
The formula for the production of " Emmensite may be varied within the limits
herein before stated to secure an inexpensive compound adapted to the uses for which
it is designed. The "Emmens" crystalline acid or its equivalent is, however, always
used as an ingredient, and by experiments I have proven that the ingredients in
about the proportions and manipulated in substantially the manner set forth in
examples A, B, C, D, E, produce new explosive compounds of grades adapted to use
under various conditions as follows:
A. One pound of "Emmens" acid is first fused. One pound of ammonium nitrate
is then mixed with said acid and afterwards one fourth pound of finely powdered dry
sodium nitrate is added. When these ingredients are entirely liquefied, another pound
of ammonium nitrate is added, and after complete liquefaction has taken place the mass
is thoroughly stirred and then allowed to cool. The resulting compound is a solid
explosive of great strength.
B. A mixture is first made by fusion of one pound of "Emmens" acid and of each
of said "two new bodies," and with this mixture are incorporated two pounds of crude
.pieric acid. Eight pounds of sodium nitrate are added to the mass and the heat raised
sufficiently to secure complete liquefaction. When bubbles of red gas are evolved, the
reaction is complete and the liquid is then allowed to cool. The resulting compound
is a solid explosive of great strength and quick action.
C. One pound of "Emmens" acid is mixed by fusion with five ounces of
naphthalene. To this composition four pounds of sodium nitrate are added and the
heat raised sufficiently to secure complete liquefaction. The mass is then stirred and
allowed to cool. The resulting compound is an inexpensive and serviceable solid
explosive.
D.-A mixture by fusion is made of one pound of "Emmens" acid with one pound
of crude picric acid and two pounds strontium nitrate. Twelve ounces of ammmonium
nitrate is added to said mixture and the heat is then raised to secure complete
liquefaction. The mass when cool is reduced to a fine powder. This compound is
explosive by detonation, but when ignited burns with a red flame.

page_text: E. A mixture is made of ninety five parts by weight of compound A, and five parts
by weight of nitro-glycerine. The resulting compound is an explosive of quick action
and great power.
The said explosive compounds in all cases are produced, it will be observed, by
mixture of a combustible with an oxidant, and the mixing may be done when and at
the places the explosives are used, thereby avoiding all the risk incurred in the
transportation of high explosives. The completed "Emmensite," however, will not
explode by ignition, and may safely be subjected to violent concussion and friction.
It is not deteriorated by heat or cold, and will not by storage undergo decomposition
or other molecular change.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. The acid hereinbefore described and named "Emmens" acid, produced by
the action of red fuming nitric acid upon crude pieric acid, as an ingredient of
explosive compounds.
Second. The process of producing said acid and the aforesaid "flakes" from nitric
and picric acids, substantially as described.
Third. The mixture herein before described and named
"Emmens" mixture,
constituted of said "Emmens" acid and the "two new bodies" aforesaid, as an
ingredient of explosive compounds.
Fourth. The explosive compound herein before described and named "Emmensite,"
produced by the chemical combination of said "Emmens" acid, or said "Emmens"
mixture, or the "homogeneous body" aforesaid, with alkaline nitrates or nitrates of
the alkaline earths.
Fifth. The process of producing said explosive compound by the liquefaction by
heat of alkaline nitrates or nitrates of the alkaline earths combined with said
Emmens acid or with said "Emmens mixture or the homogeneous body"
aforesaid, substantially as described.
::
12
Sixth. The forms of said "Emmensite," produced by the ingredients and in
about the proportions named in formulæ A, B and C, treated substantially as
described.
Seventh. The forms of said "Emmensite," produced by the ingredients and
in about the proportions named in formulæ D and E, treated substantially as
described.
Datad this 10th day of September 1888
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.