Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosive Compounds.
Year: 1886

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 5th day of October 1888, Amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosive Compounds.
I CHRISTIAN EMIL BICHEL, Government Constructor, Berlin in the Empire of
Germany, 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 :-
This invention is based upon the following ascertained facts:-(1) that resin
oils, and other hydrocarbons to be hereafter more particularly referred to, are
capable, when heated, of taking up a certain quantity of sulphur, which after
cooling, will be partly or entirely retained thereby; (2) that the sulphuretted
hydrocarbons mix readily and durably with nitrous compounds such as those
hereafter more particularly designated; and (3) that the contained sulphur enables
the mixture to explode under the action of the detonating fuses usually employed
with blasting explosives, notwithstanding that the mixture is unsusceptible to the
effect of impulses which, in other cases, cause the explosion of the compounds
employed, and that the quantity of the hydrocarbon employed in combination
with nitrous compounds explosive in themselves would nevertheless destroy their
explosibility. The above recited facts I have availed myself of in the production
of cheap and harmless explosives, which are distinguished by especial unsuscepti-
bility to the effect of blows or shocks.
In carrying out the new manufacture, resin and linseed oils, sunflower seed oil,
wood and coal tar, are preferred as well as those distillates of the latter whose
boiling points range between 120° and 200° centigrade, and the distillates of
naptha boiling at over 250°-The constituents of coal tar which boil at less
than 120° are altogether excluded, because the melting point of sulphur is 114°,
and it appears desirable, for this process, to bring the sulphur to the melting point
before the hydrocarbon is converted into vapour.
As practical illustrations of the manner in which the desired result may be
obtained, I may state that on one occasion, 100 parts by weight of resin oil were
boiled in a retort provided with a condenser, together with 28 parts by weight of
pulverized sulphur, until the sulphur was completely melted, and the resin oil, at
first of bright yellow color, had become brown ;-on another occasion, the same
quantities were heated in an iron retort provided with an ascension pipe, that,
declining gradually and suitably, terminated in a cooled receiver, also of iron, the

page_text: heating being maintained until the entire fluid mass was distilled over; no incon-
venience worth mentioning was experienced in this operation.
The same manipulation with a tar oil, the boiling point of which was between
120 and 200°, gave, after a short time, a dark coloured product, of somewhat
higher specific gravity than that of the original tar oil.
The advantage seemed rather to incline towards the distilling process by which the
entire mass is distilled over than to the heating in a retort with back-flow condenser,
because the product becomes cooled on the way to the receiver, and no sulphur
crystals are formed therein, even when more sulphur is used in the mixture than the
oil is capable of taking up.
The hydrocarbons thus impregnated with sulphur exhibit the peculiarity that
they inix readily with nitrous compounds, whilst in the case of the products of
distillation not sulphuretted, even when they appear to mix, a subsequent separation
takes place, which renders the production of a stable product impossible.
These sulphuretted hydrocarbons may now be mixed directly with oxygen
compounds such as nitrous and chloric salts, 7 or 8 parts, for example, of nitrate of
soda or potash being mixed with one part by weight of sulphuretted resin oil, and
formed into cartridges. This mixture explodes when fired by powerful detonating
caps, but does not produce an exceptionally effective action.
It is advisable, therefore, to add to the permanent oxygen-carrying material,
such as the nitrate of soda or potash, a nitrous compound not in itself explosive,
as, for example, nitro-phenol, nitro-toluol, nitro-xylol, nitro-cumol, or nitro-benzol.
Thus, if I prepare a mixture composed of 1 part of sulphuretted tar oil, 0.5 parts
by weight of nitro-cumol, and 9 to 10 parts by weight of nitrate of soda, I shall
obtain a blasting compound of much greater effect than the previous one, and
which will have the special advantage of a safe and cheap method of production,
and also of a lifting or heaving effect, rather than a scattering action. The com-
pound I prepare for use in the form of cartridges with detonating caps applied
thereto.
1
Further, the sulphuretted hydrocarbons are especially suitable for admixture
with liquid nitrous compounds explosive in themselves, as, for example, nitro-aniline,
nitro-glycerine, nitro-petroleum, which are ordinarily made up into the form of
cartridges, with the addition of an inert porous material such as Kieselguhr (fossil meal).
If 10 parts by weight, for example, of nitro-glycerine are mixed with 3 parts by
weight of sulphuretted resin oil, and, by the admixture therewith of Kieselgubr
(fossil meal), a plastic mass is produced, an explosive material is obtained which
explodes more slowly than the usual blasting explosives, and, in consequence, is less
destructive in its effects upon the immediate surroundings of the object being
operated on, without the actual amount of work (for instance, of rock thrown
down) being lessened.
In addition to this advantage, there is also another, that the nitro-glycerine, by
the admixture therewith of the sulphuretted bydrocarbon, which is completed
immediately and without a tendency to subsequence separation (unlike the result
obtained when unsulphuretted hydrocarbons are employed), is rendered extra-
ordinarily unsusceptible to the effect of concussion, and consequently diminishes
considerably the dangers attendant on the manufacture and the subsequent employ-
ment of the material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I make no general claim to the sulphuretting of hydrocarbons
in the manufacture of explosive compounds, as I have already obtained a Patent
for one mode of carrying out this result, by which a fluid explosive is obtained which is
used to mix with solid substances which may be either inert or explosive but I declare
that what I claim as new is :-
--
1. The production of explosive compounds, in a solid form by the mixture of
sulphuretted hyhrocarbons prepared by distillation either with a back flow condenser or

page_text: otherwise as above described, with oxygen compounds (such as nitrous and chloric
salts), alone, or in combination with non-explosive nitrous compounds (such as
nitro-phenol, nitro-toluol, nitro-xylol, nitro-cumol and nitro-benzol).
2. The production of explosive compounds by the mixture of sulphuretted
hydrocarbons prepared by distillation either with a back flow condenser or otherwise
as above described, with nitro-aniline, nitro-glycerine, nitro petroleum, and equivalent
liquid explosive nitrous compounds.

page_text: I CHRISTIAN EMIL BICHEL, Government Constructor, Berlin in the Empire of
Germany, 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:-
This invention is based upon the following ascertained facts:-(1) that resin
oils, and other hydrocarbons to be hereafter more particularly referred to, are
capable, when heated, of taking up a certain quantity of sulphur, which after
cooling, will be partly or entirely retained thereby; (2) that the sulphuretted
hydrocarbons mix readily and durably with nitrous compounds such as those
hereafter more particularly designated; and (3) that the contained sulphur enables
the mixture to explode under the action of the detonating fuses usually employed
with blasting explosives, notwithstanding that the mixture is unsusceptible to the
effect of impulses which, in other cases, cause the explosion of the compounds
employed, and that the quantity of the hydrocarbon employed in combination
with nitrous compounds explosive in themselves would nevertheless destroy their
explosibility. The above recited facts I have availed myself of in the production
of cheap and barmless explosives, which are distinguished by especial unsuscepti-
bility to the effect of blows or shocks.
In carrying out the new manufacture, resin and linseed oils, sunflower seed oil,
wood and coal tar, are preferred, as well as those distillates of the latter whose
boiling points range between 120° and 200° centigrade, and the distillates of
naptha boiling at over 250°-The constituents of coal tar which boil, at less
than 120° are altogether excluded, because the melting point of sulphur is 114°,
and it appears desirable, for this process, to bring the sulphur to the melting point
before the hydrocarbon is converted into vapour.
As practical illustrations of the manner in which the desired result may be
obtained, I may state that on one occasion, 100 parts by weight of resin oil were
boiled in a retort provided with a condenser, together with 28 parts by weight of
pulverized sulphur, until the sulphur was completely melted, and the resin oil, at
first of bright yellow color, had become brown;-on another occasion, the same
quantities were heated in an iron retort provided with an ascension pipe, that,
declining gradually and suitably, terminated in a cooled receiver, also of iron, the

page_text: heating being maintained until the entire fluid mass was distilled over; no incon-
venience worth mentioning was experienced in this operation.
The same manipulation with a tar oil, the boiling point of which was between
120 and 200°, gave, after a short time, a dark coloured product, of somewhat
higher specific gravity than that of the original tar oil.
The advantage seemed rather to incline towards the distilling process than to
the heating in a retort with back-flow condenser, because the product becomes
cooled on the way to the receiver, and no sulphur crystals are formed therein, even
when more sulphur is used in the mixture than the oil is capable of taking up.
The hydrocarbons thus impregnated with sulphur exhibit the peculiarity that
they mix readily with nitrous compounds, whilst in the case of the products of
distillation not sulphuretted, even when they appear to mix, a subsequent separation
takes place, which renders the production of a stable product impossible.
These sulphuretted hydrocarbons may now be mixed directly with oxygen
compounds such as nitrous and chloric salts, 7 or 8 parts, for example, of nitrate of
soda or potash being mixed with one part by weight of sulphuretted resin oil, and
formed into cartridges. This mixture explodes when fired by powerful detonating
caps, but does not produce an exceptionally effective action.
It is advisable, therefore, to add to the permanent oxygen-carrying material,
such as the nitrate of soda or potash, a nitrous compound not in itself explosive,
as, for example, nitro-phenol, nitro-toluol, nitro-xylol, nitro-cumol, or nitro-benzol.
Thus, if I prepare a mixture composed of 1 part of sulphuretted tar oil, 0.5 parts
by weight of nitro-cumol, and 9 to 10 parts by weight of nitrate of soda, I shall
obtain a blasting compound of much greater effect than the previous one, and
which will have the special advantage of a safe and cheap method of production,
and also of a lifting or heaving effect, rather than a scattering action. The com-
pound I prepare for use in the form of cartridges with detonating caps applied
thereto.
Further, the sulphuretted hydrocarbons are especially suitable for admixture
with nitrous compounds explosive in themselves, as, for example, nitro-aniline,
nitro-glycerine, nitro-petroleum, which are ordinarily made up into the form of
cartridges, with the addition of an inert porous material such as Kieselguhr (fossil
meal).
If 10 parts by weight, for example, of nitro-glycerine are mixed with 3 parts by
weight of sulphuretted resin oil, and, by the admixture therewith of Kieselguhr
(fossil meal), a plastic mass is produced, an explosive material is obtained which
explodes more slowly than the usual blasting explosives, and, in consequence, is less
destructive in its effects upon the immediate surroundings of the object being
operated on, without the actual amount of work (for instance, of rock thrown
down) being lessened.
In addition to this advantage, there is also another, that the nitro-glycerine, by
the admixture therewith of the sulphuretted hydrocarbon, which is completed
immediately and without a tendency to subsequence separation (unlike the result
obtained when unsulphuretted hydrocarbons are employed), is rendered extra-
ordinarily unsusceptible to the effect of concussion, and consequently diminishes
considerably the dangers attendant on the manufacture and the subsequent employ-
ment of the material. .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I make no general claim to the sulphuretting of hydrocarbons
in the manufacture of explosive compounds, as I have already obtained a Patent
for one mode of carrying out this result, but I declare that what I claim as
new is :-
1. The production of explosive compounds, by the mixture of sulphuretted
hydrocarbons prepared as above described, with oxygen compounds (such as nitrous

page_text: and chloric salts), alone, or in combination with non-explosive nitrous compounds
(such as nitro-phenol, nitro-toluol, nitro-xylol, nitro-eumol and nitro-benzol).
2. The production of explosive compounds by the mixture of sulphuretted
hydrocarbons prepared as above described, with nitro-aniline, nitro-glycerine,
nitro petroleum, and equivalent explosive nitrous compounds.