IMPROVE- MENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS FOR BLASTING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS FOR BLASTING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Henri Prodhomme, of Putte Cappellen, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Middleton Justice
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th October 1880,
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS FOR
BLASTING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Henri
Prodhomme, of Putte Cappellen, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.
All the explosive substances which have hitherto been employed as substitutes
for the ordinary black powder formerly used for blasting in mines and quarries
present with certain advantages more or less real certain serious drawbacks resulting
from the danger incurred in their manufacture and use.
The blasting powders now generally employed are those which have an active
base, and unite with the shattering qualities of nitro-glycerine the breaking up
qualities of the ordinary coarse grained mine powder of commerce. The disadvan-
tages of these materials are,-
1st. The danger in manufacture, such danger resulting from the handling of
liquid nitro glycerine, which is their chief element in common.
2nd. Their preservation and manipulation are dangerous, as the nitro-glycerine
is only mechanically mixed with the other substances employed, and may at any
time from unforseen circumstances be set at liberty.
3rd. The explosion of dynamite produces unhealthy gases, the deleterious
properties of which occasion frequent and serious accidents.
The object of this Invention is to obviate these defects, and at the same time to
produce a powder which will possess the advantageous properties without the
dangerous oues of such materials as are now known to the trade by the names of
dynamite gum, lithofracteur, purbiasit, gun cotton, carboazotine, febastine,
pudrolithe, etc.

page_text: As before stated, in all these powders the active base is only mechanically mixed
with the other substances, while according to my Invention the active base or
bases are combined chemically with the other substances employed, and in this
lies the great merit of my improved powder, as the danger of mechanical separation
or chemical decomposition of the active base of the powder is obviated. In fact,
my powder may be ignited in the open air, where it will burn but not explode, as
the heat generated is not sufficient to liberate the active bases. Its combustion
however under these circumstances is incomplete, and a solid residuum is left,
composed mainly of sulphates. It is only when my powder has been compressed
into a cartridge, or rammed into a cavity by a tamping bar, that it can be
exploded. Under these circumstances the temperature is very high, the combus-
tion complete, and the generation of gases instantaneous. For clearness of illus-
tration it may be assumed that nitro-glycerine is the active element chosen for the
manufacture of my powder, but I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to this, as nitro-cellulose or other analogous substances may be employed,
and equally good results obtained thereby.
Under these conditions the substances which I employ are,-
1st. A nitrate, which may the ordinary salt-petre, or nitrate of soda, lime,
baryta, or similar nitrates, or a mixture of them.
2nd. An organic matter, such as tan, cellulose, sawdust, glycerine, or such
materials as will unite with the nitric acid of the nitrates, and produce the elements
of nitro-glycerine, nitro-cellulose, gun-cotton, or etc. The re-action of these
elements takes place when heat is applied, and in the presence of sulphuric acid
furnished by
3rd. Soluble sulphates, such as sulphate of soda, of lime, of iron, and like sub-
stances. The nitro-glycerine formed is brought in contact with the elements of
ordinary powder; these are saltpetre, charcoal, and sulphur.
The saltpetre is used for the purpose of furnishing oxygen and nitrogen (azote),
and these I may secure by employing a larger quantity of the nitrate than is
requisite for the production of nitro-glycerine. It is therefore only necessary to
introduce the
4th. Sulphur, which I add in the form of powder or flowers, and the
5th. Charcoal, which may be animal or wood, or soot, powdered coke, or resin
may be employed.
The chemical reactions take place at a temperature of about 110° to 115°
centigrade, which is the melting point of sulphur, and as all the substances are in
a liquid state, either by being fused or dissolved, there is an absence of danger in
the manufacture, owing to the nitro-glycerine or other active base being combined
with the other elements of the powder as soon as it is produced. To facilitate the
reactions the substances should be finely ground, so that they may be thoroughly
mixed, and for this purpose a grinder or mixer similar to Carrs may with advan-
tage be employed.
The sulphate is dissolved in the least possible quantity of water, and the mixture
is then placed in preferably a truncated cone shaped vat well enamelled. Such a
vat, if one metre high, ninety centimetres in diameter at its largest end, and seventy
centimetres at its smallest, will allow for the production of about 100 kilogrammes
of any powder at a single charge.
For the purpose of agitating the substances during the heating a mechanical
arrangement similar to that employed in the manufacture of soft soap may be
used.
The vats may be heated by a coil of pipe, through which steam at a high pressure
circulates. When the chemical reaction takes place the composition becomes turgid,
and at this period it should be continuously stirred.
When the reaction ceases to be violent the operation is completed, and the steam
should be instantly cut off by means of a cut off valve, as otherwise a small quantity
of sulphur remaining unmixed might possibly become ignited and set fire to the
composition.

page_text: The powder having become sufficiently cool and dry, it has the appearance of
lumps of an iron grey colour, more or less strongly agglomerated. The lumps are
then broken (not powdered), and for this purpose I have found the Vapart crusher
a useful machine. The crushed powder is then sifted, and as it contains much
moisture it is placed in thin layers in troughs, which are placed in a dryer or heater.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that my powder is prepared
from the following substances:-
1st. Nitrates, 60 to 70 per cent. by weight.
2nd. Organic matter, 10 to 15 per cent. by weight.
3rd. Dissolved sulphates, about 5 per cent. by weight.
4th. Sulphur, 10 to 15 per cent. by weight.
5th. Charcoal or resin, about 5 per cent. by weight.
The preference is given to the following substances, although analogous substances
may be used:-
1st. A mixture of nitrate of soda and refined saltpetre.
2nd. Exhausted tan or sawdust.
1
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Middleton Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1881.-
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent. Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS FOR
BLASTING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Henri
Prodhomme, of Putte Cappellen, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.
All the explosive substances which have hithereto been employed as substitutes
for the ordinary black powder formerly used for blasting in mines and quarries,
present with certain advantages more or less real, certain serious drawbacks
resulting from the danger incurred in their manufacture and use. The blasting
powders now generally employed are those which have an active base and unite
with the shattering qualities of nitro-glycerine the breaking up qualities of the
ordinary coarse grained mine powder of commerce. The disadvantages of these
materials are,—
First. The danger in manufacture; such danger resulting from the handling of
liquid nitro-glycerine which is their chief element in common.
Second. Their preservation and manipulation are dangerous, as the nitro glycerine
is only mechanically mixed with the other substances employed, and may at any
time from unforseen circumstances be set at liberty.
For
Third. The explosion of dynamite produces unhealthy gases, the deleterious
properties of which occasion frequent and serious accidents. The object of this
Invention is to obviate these defects, and at the same time to produce a powder
which will possess the advantageous properties without the dangerous ones of
such materials as are now known to the trade by the names of dynamite gum,
lithofracteur, paubiasit, gun cotton, carboazotine, febastine, pudrolithe, etc.
clearness of illustration it may be assumed that nitro glycerine is the active
element chosen for the manufacture of my powder, but I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to this, as nitro cellulose or other analogous substances
may be employed and equally good results obtained thereby. As before stated,
in many of these powders the active base is only mechanically mixed with the
other substances, while according to my Invention the active base or bases are
combined chemically with the other substances employed, and in this lies the great
merit of my improved powder, as the danger of mechanical separation or chemical
decomposition of the active base of the powder is obviated. In fact my powder may
be ignited in the open air, where it will burn but not explode, as the heat generated
is not sufficient to liberate the active bases. Its combustion however under these
circumstances is incomplete, and a solid residiuum is left, composed mainly of
sulphates. It is only when my powder has been compressed into a cartridge
or rammed into a cavity by a tamping bar that it can be exploded. Under these
circumstances the temperature is very high, the combustion complete, and the
generation of gases instantaneous. Under these conditions the substances which
I employ for the production of my powder (to which I have given the name of
pyronitrine), are,-
First. A nitrate which may be the ordinary salt-petre, or nitrate of soda, lime,
baryta, or similar nitrates, or a mixture of them.
Second. An organic matter, such as tan, cellulose, sawdust, glycerine, or such
materials as will unite with the nitric acid of the nitrates and produce the elements
The re-action of these
of nitro-glycerine, nitro-cellulose, gun cotton, or etc.
elements takes place when heat is applied and in the presence of sulphuric acid
furnished by

page_text: <s
Third. Soluble sulphates, such as sulphate of soda, of lime, of iron, and similar
substances. The nitro glycerine formed is brought in contact with the elements of
ordinary powder; these are salt-petre, charcoal, and sulphur. The salt-petre is
used for the purpose of furnishing oxygen and nitrogen (azote), and these I may
secure by employing a larger quantity of the nitrate than is requisite for the pro-
duction of nitro-glycerine. It is therefore only necessary to introduce the fourth,
sulphur, which I add in the form of powder or flowers;" and fifth, the charcoal,
which may be animal, wood, soot, or powdered coke, or resin may be employed.
The chemical reactions take place at a temperature of about 110° to 115° centi-
grade, which is the melting point of sulphur, and as all the substances are in a
liquid state, either by being fused or dissolved, there is an absence of danger in
the manufacture owing to the nitro-glycerine or other active base being combined
with the other elements of the powder as soon as it is produced. To facilitate the
reactions the substances should be finely ground, so that they may be thoroughly
mixed, and for this purpose a grinder or mixer similar to Carrs may with advantage
be employed. The sulphate is dissolved in the least possible quantity of water,
and the mixture is then placed in preferably a truncated cone shaped vat, well
enamelled. Such a vat if one metre high, ninety centimetres in diameter at its
largest end, and seventy centimetres at its smallest, will allow for the production
of about 100 kilogrammes of pyronitrine at a single charge.
For the purpose of
agitating the substances during the heating a mechanical arrangement similar to
that employed in the manufacture of soft soap may be used.
The vats may be
heated by a coil of pipe, through which steam at a high pressure circulates, so that
the reaction may take place at a high temperature. When the chemical reaction
takes place the composition becomes turgid, and at this period it should be con-
tinuously stirred. When the reaction ceases to be violent tho operation is completed,
and the steam should be instantly cut off by means of a cut off valve, as otherwise
a small quantity of sulphur remaining unmixed might possibly become ignited and
set fire to the composition. The powder having become sufficiently cool and dry
it has the appearance of lumps of an iron grey colour, more or less strongly
agglomerated. The lumps are then broken (not powdered), and for this purpose
have found the Vapart crusher a useful machine. The crushed powder is then
sifted, and as it contains much moisture it is placed in thin layers in troughs, which
are placed in a dryer or heater, where the powder is thoroughly dried. Pyronitrine
for mining and quarrying purposes may be advantageously prepared from the
following substances, and in about the proportions as stated.
1st. Nitrates
60 per cent by weight

page_text: decreased, a powder with still greater shattering power will be produced. The
proportions then being about as follows:-
1st. Nitrates
2nd. Organic matter
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70 per cent. by weight.
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decreased, a powder with still greater shattering power will be produced. The
proportions then being about as follows:-
1st. Nitrates
2nd. Organic matter
3rd. Dissolved sulphates
4th. Sulphur
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Channel and racin
70 per cent. by weight.
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5th. A mixture of animal charcoal and French resin.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,
First. The improved explosive compound hereinbefore described which contains
neither in a free nor a mixed state nitro-glycerine, nitro-cellulose, nor any kind of
gun cotton. The distinctive characteristics of said compound are that it can be
produced in solid lumps (not in powder), non liability to detonate when lighted in
the open air, of partially burning in the open air leaving a solid residuum, of
detonating when in a greatly compressed state (in this state the combustion being
complete no residuum being left), of not producing by its combustion injurious
gases, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The improvement in explosive compounds herein before described, which
consists in forming said compound in accordance with one of the three formulae,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth, the choice of the compound being
determined by local circumstances.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
LOOP
Witness,
PHILIP S. JUSTICE.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE. (L.S.)