Improvements in the Preparation of Explosives.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Explosives.
I, LOUIS Roux, of 36 Rue Ballu, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the preparation of explosives and
dynamites the object being to obtain safety explosives and dynamites.
"
I have given the name of "belterines' to a series of explosive compounds based
upon the employment of a derivative of picnic acid (Welter Bitter), cresylate of
ammonia. This salt is obtained by nitrogenizing cresol, so as to obtain a trinitro-
cresol. In practice, a mixture is in fact obtained of trinitro-cresol with. a small
proportion of nitrogenized phenol or picric acid (2 or 3 per cent.) and of
bi-nitrogenized cresol (about 10 per cent.) which is then saturated with ammonia.
The said cresylate of ammonia is not an explosive (Decision of the Minister of
War-France upon the advice of the Commission upon Explosive Substances),
but mixed with the different nitrates, or with chlorate of potash, pure or gelatinated
nitro-glycerine, it forms a series of explosives presenting special characteristics,
and capable of meeting the diverse requirements of industrial applications with
advantage.
'
The explosives intended for blasting purposes in mines and quarries, the
property in which I intend to especially reserve to myself, are:
"
1st. Belterine A of No. 1; composed of the said cresylate of ammonia and
of nitrate of ammonia with a small proportion of chlorate of potash.
Preferably in order to obtain the maximum of force, the proportion of the two
bodies will be 22 per cent. of cresylate to 78 per cent of nitrate; but when it is
desired to lower the temperature of the gases produced by the explosion, so as to
form "grisoutines" (that is to say, explosives intended for use in mines pervaded
by firedamp, in which the temperature of detonation ought not to exceed
1800 degrees centigrade) the proportion of the cresylate should be reduced to
4 per cent. and that of the nitrate increased to 95 per cent.
I introduce into this mixture 5 per cent of chlorate of potash, dissolved in water,
in order that the components may be crushed and incorporated beneath a mill-
stone without danger, being always kept in a moist condition. At the same time
this method of treatment serves to ensure that the chlorate may be uniformly
distributed throughout the mass, this being a sine qua non if the presence of the
salt is to be unattended with danger.
The substances having been suitably mixed, the composition is dried and placed
in impermeable cartridge cases, where it is compressed so as to have a density of
about 1.20. :
In this manner I obtain an explosive which, although having the same force as
dynamite No. 1, also possesses all the qualities of a safety explosive, that is to say:

page_text: (a) The method of manufacture of this explosive is extremely simple and
absolutely without danger.
(b) The composition does not contain any injurious substance.
(c) The composition ignites only with great difficulty and burns without
exploding.
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(d) -The substance may be submitted to shocks, even of a violent character,
without detonating.
(e) The substance cannot give rise to any dangerous decomposition either under
the influence of moisture or of high temperature.
(f) The gases produced by the detonation are not injurious, special experiments
having demonstrated, that in a closed gallery the gases produced by the detonation
are lighter, less fatiguing and disperse more readily than those of dynamite; also
that there is no danger, as is the case when dynamite is used, of deteriorating the
air of the galleries should the priming ignite the substance, without causing it to
.
detonate.
(g) The substance does not freeze. As is well known, one of the great defects of
dynamite is that it becomes frozen and hardened by exposure. to. cold, and that the
accidents occasioned by the thawing of the cartridges are very numerous indeed.
Finally the cartridges are only detonated witli difficulty and solely by the use
of very powerful primings, also they do not produce their full effect unless they
are entirely confined, as in a blasting hole. This explosive thus presents great
advantages from the point of view of public security, because its use is almost
impossible in the hands of criminals.
2nd. Belterine-dynamite.
Into the composition which has been described, formed from cresylate, and
nitrate of ammonia (without chlorate), I introduce a small proportion of nitro-
glycerine (10 per cent, about). This nitro-glycerine is fixed or set by means of 1
per cent of soluble gun-cotton. It is then caused to resume its liquid condition
to a sufficient extent by means of a small quantity of acetone, or any other suitable
solvent, in order that it may be capable of being incorporated with and uniformly
distributed throughout the mass. This condition is absolutely essential, because
unless perfect homogeneity exists, the mixture will not possess the features of
security enumerated above.
The acetone having evaporated naturally, the composition is compressed in
impermeable cartridge cases until an average density of 1.45 (1.40 to, 1.50) is
attained.
Cartridges prepared in this manner present the features of safety and general
security that we have enumerated with reference to the previous composition. It
is not necessary to take into account the possibility of the freezing of the nitro-
glycerine, the surrounding mass of 90 per cent. detonating at any temperature
It is essential that primings of extra strength should be employed in all cases,
these being charged with 1 gramme or better still 1.50 gr. of fulminates."
Dad th 90th of Waham 1807
Improvements in the Preparation of Explosives.
I, Louis Roux, of 36. Rue Ballu, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer,
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:-

page_text: This invention relates to improvements in the preparation of explosives and
dynamites the object being to obtain safety explosives and dynamites.
I have given the name of "Velterines "to a series of explosive compounds based
upon the employment of a derivative of picric acid (Welter Bitter), cresylate of
ammonia. This salt is obtained by nitrogenizing cresol, so as to obtain a trinitro-
cresol. In practice, a mixture is in fact obtained of trinitro-cresol with a small
proportion of nitrogenized phenol or picric acid (2 or 3 per cent) and of
bi-nitrogenized cresol (about 10 per cent) which is then saturated with ammonia...
The said cresylate of ammonia is not an explosive (Decision of the Minister of
War-France-upon the advice of the Commission, upon Explosive Substances),
but mixed with the different nitrates, or with chlorate of potash, pure or gelatinated
nitro-glycerine, it forms a series of explosives presenting special characteristics,
and capable of meeting the diverse requirements of industrial applications with
advantage.
The explosives intended for blasting purposes in mines and quarries, the
property in which I intend to especially reserve to myself, are:
"
1st. Velterine A. of No. 1 composed of the said cresylate of ammonia and of
nitrate of ammonia with a small proportion of chlorate of potash.
Preferably in order to, obtain the maximum of force, the proportion of the two
bodies will be 22 per cent. of cresylate to 78 per cent. of nitrate; but when it is
desired to lower the temperature of the gases produced by the explosion, so as, to
form"
grisoutines" (that is to say, explosives intended for use in mines pervaded
by firedamp, in which the temperature of detonation ought not to exceed
1800 degrees centigrade) the proportion of the cresylate should be reduced to
4 per cent. and that of the nitrate increased to 95 per cent.
I introduce into this mixture per cent. of chlorate of potash, dissolved in water,
in order that the components may be crushed and incorporated beneath a mill-
stone without danger, being always kept in a moist condition. At the same time
this method of treatment serves to ensure that the chlorate may be uniformly
distributed throughout the mass, this being a sine qua non if the presence of the
salt is to be unattended with danger.
The substances having been suitably mixed, the composition is dried and placed
in impermeable cartridge cases, where it is compressed so as to have a density of
about 1.20.
In this manner I obtain an explosive which, although having the same force as
dynamite No. 1, also possesses all the qualities of a safety explosive, that is to say:
(a) The method of manufacture of this explosive is extremely simple and
absolutely without danger.
(b).The composition does not contain any injurious substance.
(c) The composition ignites only with great difficulty and burns without
exploding.
(d) The substance may be submitted to shocks, even of a violent character,
without detonating.
(e) The substance cannot give rise to any dangerous decomposition either under
the influence of moisture or of high temperature.
(f) The gases produced by the detonation are not injurious, special experiments
having demonstrated, that in a closed gallery the gases produced by the detonation
are lighter, less fatiguing and disperse more readily than those of dynamite; also
that there is no danger, as is the case when dynamite is used, of deteriorating the
air of the galleries should the priming ignite the substance, without causing it to
detonate.
(g) The substance does not freeze. As is well known, one of the great defects of
dynamite is that it becomes frozen and hardened by exposure to cold, and that the
accidents occasioned by the thawing of the cartridges are very numerous indeed.
Finally the cartridges are only detonated with difficulty and solely by the use
of very powerful primings, also they do not produce their full effect unless they

page_text: are entirely confined, as in a blasting hole. This explosive thus presents great
advantages from the point of view of public security, because its use is almost
impossible in the hands of criminals.
2nd. Velterine-dynamite.
Into the composition which has been described, formed from cresylate and
nitrate of ammonia (without chlorate), I introduce a small proportion of nitro-
glycerine (10 per cent, about). This nitro-glycerine is fixed or set by means of 1
per cent of soluble gun-cotton. It is then caused to resume its liquid condition
to a sufficient extent by means of a small quantity of acetone, or any other suitable
solvent, in order that it may be capable of being incorporated with and uniformly
distributed throughout the mass. This condition is absolutely essential, because
unless perfect homogeneity exists, the mixture will not possess the features of
security enumerated above.
The acetone having evaporated naturally, the composition is compressed in
impermeable cartridge cases until an average density of 1.45 (1.40 to 1.50) is
attained.
Cartridges prepared in this manner present the features of safety and general
security that we have enumerated with reference to the previous composition. It
is not necessary to take into account the possibility of the freezing of the nitro-
glycerine, the surrounding mass of 90 per cent. detonating at any temperature
It is essential that primings of extra strength should be employed in all cases,
these being charged with 1 gramme or better still 1.50 gr. of fulminates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
The two explosive compounds above described, as constituting safety explosives,
being capable of employment with advantage in mine and quarry work, whilst
obviating the dangers attending the use of dynamite, powder or similar explosives,
during their manufacturé, transportation and storage."
Dated this 21st day of May 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents or the Applicant.