IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Max Tschirner, of San Francisco, County of San
Francisco, State of California, one of the United States of America, Chemist,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Max Tschirner at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd September 1880.
MAX TSCHIRNER, of San Francisco, County of San Francisco, State of California,
one of the United States of America, Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE
COMPOUNDS."
The base of my said composition is composed of the nitro-phenols; these, when
combined with other oxydizing salts, such as chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates,
manganates, permanganates, and chromates that will readily yield oxygen by
decomposition from a powerful explosive that will explode instantaneously with
great force and effect, as the whole amount of carbon contained in the nitro-phenols
is changed or transformed at once into carbonic acid. Hence my Invention or
discovery consists in the uniting of the nitrophenols with other gas producing or
oxydizing agents.
The proportion of the above ingredients will vary according to the effect or
explosive force required. The following formulae of one hundred (100) parts will
be sufficiently explicit to enable those skilled in the art to manufacture my said
explosive compound, to wit:-
No. 1. Sixty-five (65) parts of nitro-phenol; thirty-five (35) parts of oxydizing
salts.
No. 2. Fifty-six (56) parts of nitrophenol; fourty-four (44) parts of oxydizing
salts.
No. 3. Forty-eight (48) parts of nitro-phenol; fifty-two (52) parts of oxydizing
salts.
The process of manufacturing my explosive compound is as follows, to wit:-
The ingredients are first reduced to a fine powder by a separate trituration, after
which they are well incorporated together. I then take of rosin or resinous
matter, such as india rubber or gutta percha in solution, in quantity equal to
five (5) per cent. of the whole compound under treatment and thoroughly mix it in
a sufficient quantity of liquid or fluid hydrocarbon, such as naphtha, benzine, or
kerosine oil; with this solution I sprinkle the mass, using a sufficient quantity to
thoroughly moisten it.

page_text: During this process of mixing a constant agitation of the mass should be kept
up, or until the lighter hydrocarbon passes off by evaporation and the compound
becomes plastic and easily molded, in which condition it is formed into cartridges
of sufficient size by packing in molds or cylinders.
The cartridges may be perforated with a hole from end to end by using a piece
of wire while packing the compound into the molds. The cap or fulminate for
exploding being placed within this hole or opening by which it is believed a more
thorough decomposition is had in the explosion; yet ignition and explosion may be
effected without a percussion cap, and by a lighted fuso in the usual way.
It should here be observed that of the several nitro-phenols I prefer to employ
picric acid, and of the various oxydizing salts I prefer to use chlorate of potash, as
this salt or chemical is generally to be had in large quantities and at a reasonable
price.
Furthermore, of all the various resinous substances I prefer to use india-rubber
or gutta percha in mixing my explosive compound, and for this purpose any liquid
which is a solvent for the rubber or gutta percha may be employed. With this
solution I thoroughly saturate the ingredients which I am compounding, and
permit the volatile portion of the liquid to pass off or evaporate and leave the mass
in a plastic state. By this means the particles of the compound are coated with n
film of the elastic properties of the gum, which will more securely protect the
_compound from premature explosion when friction is applied to it, as in forcing
down a cartridge-into-a-drill hole of smaller diameter than that of the cartridge
itself.
Tho-value of my Invention or discovery is evinced in and by the following
statement, that is to say:
First. In the uniting-of-only two ingredients which in themselves-or-taken
separately are inexplosive, and when so united or compounded-will.explode with
great force and effect only by means of fire when confined or a very strong
percussion, such as a percussion cap.
Second. By forming a compound that is not dangerous to manufacture or handle
at a temperature less than that of 212 Fah.; and furthermore, it will not be effected
by cold like nitro-glycerine; and lastly, in exploding, the pressure of noxious or
injurious gases are not to be found, which latter fact will render my compound
more desirable for mining purposes or underground work than other high
explosives.
Having thus described my said Invention and the manner in which the same is
to be performed, I wish it distinctly understood that I claim,-
First. The herein described composition of matter to be used as an explosive
compound consisting of the nitro-phenols, when combined with other oxydizing or
gas producing salts or ingredients, in about the proportions as herein set forth
and specified.
Second. The process herein described of uniting or compounding the nitro-
phenols with chlorate of potash or other oxydizing ingredients, consisting of mixing
the saine with resinous matter in a hydrocarbon solution in about the proportion
hercin set forth, so as to leave the mass adhesive and in a fit condition to be
molded into cartridges in the manner substantially as herein specified.
Third. In the manufacture of explosives the employment of india rubber or
gutta percha in about the proportion herein set forth for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Max Tschirner, have hereunto set iny hand and
Beal, this Second day of September, in the year of our Lord 1880.