Improvements in Protecting and Preserving Explosives.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Protecting and Preserving Explosives.
I CARL LAMM of 11 Biblioteksgatan Stockholm Sweden Manager of the Bellite
Explosive Works do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object protecting and preserving explosives by the
employment of certain substances hereinafter described the said substances being
employed either alone or in combination with other substances or materials as hereinafter
explained.
This Invention is more especially applicable to the treatment and preparation of
explosives composed of mixtures of nitrate of ammonia or other nitrates with dinitro
benzol or the like and in particular of explosives which contain hygroscopic salts
soluble in water the said explosives being in the form of powder or otherwise.
By means of this invention explosives of the class hereinbefore referred to are
enabled to be employed under water or in wet bore holes and are likewise rendered
completely proof against climatic influences such as heat damp and the like.
For the purposes of this Invention I employ Carnauba wax and Palm wax, the
former being a secretion obtained from the leaves of a certain species of palm
(Kopernica cerifera) and the latter from the bark of another species of palm (Ceroxylon
andicola). These waxes possess the property of requiring a temperature of about
85 degrees Centigrade to inelt them and of contracting very considerably as they set
or solidify on cooling.
The Carnauba wax and palm wax retain these properties when mixed with certain
other substances such as Japan wax or beeswax or the product of the butter tree
(Bassia buty racea), naphthalin, tallow, paraffin and the like which melt at from
about 40 to 50 degrees Centigrade.
in
A homogeneous mixture of Carnauba wax or Palm wax with one or more of the
aforesaid materials melts at from about 60 to 80 degrees Centigrade according to
the proportions employed which can be varied according to the result to be obtained.
When the protecting material is in a liquid state the explosive being made up
the form of cartridges, blocks or segments or otherwise is immersed therein. The
protecting material then immediately surrounds and envelopes the explosive with a
skin or covering which owing to the high coefficient of contraction of the Carnauba
or palm wax on cooling is so shrunk or contracted that all parts are completely and
closely enveloped.
The explosive in cartridges, blocks, segments or other forms may be wrapped in
thin paper and the protecting material owing to the great contraction of the Carnauba
or Palm wax not only presses the paper firmly to the explosive material but also glues
it together and fixes it in position.
This protecting and waterproofing material which melts at a temperature of
between 60 and 85 degrees Centigrade presents the important advantage that it is
not liable to dissolve in hot weather or tropical climates. Other protecting materials
which melt at lower temperatures are liable to penetrate the explosive and affect its
explosive action to a considerable extent by increasing the proportion of carbon.
F
1

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Protecting and Preserving Explosives.
I, CARL LAMM, of 11, Biblioteks-gatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden
Manager of the Bellite Explosive Works do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to the protection and preservation of blocks or other pieces or
charges of explosive material and is more especially advantageous in the case of
explosives which contain hygroscopic salts soluble in water.
My said invention is chiefly designed for the treatment of explosives composed
of mixtures of nitrate of ammonia or other nitrates with dinitro benzol or the
like.
By my said invention I provide for enabling explosives of the kind or class above
mentioned to be employed under water or in wet bore-holes, and for making the
explosive charges completely proof against climatic influences such as heat, damp
and the like.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I employ Carnauba wax, or other
palm wax; the former is a secretion obtained from the leaves of a certain species of
palm known as the Kopernica or Corypha cerifera or Carnauba palm; another wax
suitable for my purpose is obtained from the bark of another species of palm known
as the Ceroxylon andicola. These so-called waxes possess the properties of melting
or liquefying at a comparatively high temperature, say about 85 degrees Centigrade
more or less, and of contracting very considerably as they set or solidify on
cooling.
Carnauba wax and other palm-wax, moreover, retain the properties above mentioned
when mixed with other substances, such as Japan wax or bees' wax or the product
of the butter-tree (Bassia buty racea), or naphthaline paraffine, and the like, which
melt at from 40 to 50 degrees Centigrade or thereabouts.
A mixture of Carnauba wax or other palm wax with one or more of the aforesaid
materials will melt at from 60 to 80 degrees Centigrade or thereabouts according to
the proportions employed, which can be varied in accordance with the result to
be obtained.
The above described protective material is employed in the following manner, that
is to say, it is liquefied or melted, and the explosive material made up in the form
of blocks, charges or cartridges, or in any other convenient form is dipped or immersed
therein. The liquefied protective material immediately surrounds and envelopes the
explosive material so that the latter, when withdrawn from the said liquefied pro-
tective material, is covered with a skin or coating of the same, which, by reason of
the high co-efficient of contraction of the Carnauba or other palm wax on cooling,
shrinks or contracts in such a manner that all parts of the block or other piece of
explosive material are completely and closely enveloped thereby.
In some cases, the block or other piece of explosive material is wrapped or
enveloped in thin paper or other suitable substance before being dipped or immersed
in the liquefied protective material; the said protective material on cooling, by
reason of the great contraction of the Carnauba or other palm wax, not only presses
the paper or other substance firmly against the explosive material, but also causes
it to adhere thereto, and securely fixes it in position thereon, hermetically sealing
the said covering and rendering it water and air tight.
An important advantage of the above described protective and waterproofing
material is that, as it melts at a temperature of from about 60 to 85 degrees Centigrade
more or less, it is not liable to melt or liquefy on exposure to atmospheric temperature
in hot weather, or in tropical climates; the said material is, therefore, free from the
defects to which protective materials hitherto employed are liable, viz.:-of meting
or liquefying and penetrating the explosive material, thus affecting its explosive action
to a considerable extent by increasing the proportion of carbon contained in it.
Moreover my improved protective material cools and solidifies immediately or almost

page_text: immediately the blocks or other pieces of explosive material are withdrawn from the
composition, the said blocks or other pieces can, therefore, be handled at once without
risk of injury to the covering or skin of protective material that has been deposited
upon them.
Carnauba wax and other palm waxes are, moreover, inexpensive, thus enabling
the above described protective material to be produced at a low cost.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that 1
claim:-
First. The employment, in a protective coating for explosive material, of Carnauba
or other palm wax, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. A block or other piece or charge of explosive material (with or without
an envelope or wrapping of paper or other suitable material) coated or covered with
Carnauba wax or other palm wax mixed with materials having a lower melting point
all substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated this 15th day of May 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.