Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1887.
Complete Left, 24th Aug., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as ToHOWS
My Invention is based on the following principle-vizt. that organic compounds
nitrated to any degree, either alone or united with chlorine bromine or iodine will,
when subjected to the action of a reducing agent such as iron, zinc, acetic acid,
hydro-sulphate of ammonia, pure or sulphuretted hydrogen etc., form amido
derivatives.
I have found that the amido-nitro-derivatives of phenol, benzene, naphthaline, etc.
possess the most remarkable explosive properties and may form (either singly or mixed
together and either united or not with a base and with or without the addition of
oxidizing agents such as nitrates, chlorates, chromates, manganates etc.) an explosive
powder which may or may not be smokeless and which is adapted for all requirements
according to its nature, the degree of reduction of the nitrated compound and the
proportions of the mixture.
When ignited by a detonator of a sufficiently violent nature, very powerful bursting
effects are produced. When ignited by flame only, it burns more or less rapidly and
with or without smoke according to its method of preparation and it constitutes an
excellent progressive powder for use in fire-arms, for charging projectiles and for other
military as well as for blasting purposes.
For example, I take a trinitro-phenol (phenylic or cresylic) and I boil it with scrap
iron or scrap zinc, alone, whereupon the trinitro-phenol owing to the hydrogen being
disengaged in a nascent state, undergoes a reduction which although falling short of
producing picramic acid, is yet very remarkable.
The crystallized or more or less amorphous salt thus obtained constitutes by itself,
when perfectly dry an explosive matter, burning quietly in the open air and very well
suited for firearms.
If the reduction be carried still further either with the aid of acetic acid or by other
means, picramic acid is obtained which, either alone or combined with a base (picramate
of soda or ammonia etc.) also forms an explosive powder.

page_text: This picramic acid or picramate obtained by the aid of this amido-nitro-body forms
an excellent powder when mixed with an oxidizing agent, either separately or in different
proportions.
proportions.
(1) Picramic acid
Nitrate of potash
(2) Picramate of soda
Nitrate of potash
EXAMPLES.
30 to 50 per cent.
70 50
"
"
25 53
"
75 47
"
"
"
With the combustible in excess greater strength is obtainable but a mixture of equal
parts gives very good results. In each of the above examples, a powder is furnished
which is not dangerous to shocks, which is not endowed with bursting properties and
and which if charged to a density of 0.4 tenths, indicates by the crusher gauge, a
pressure of about 3,000, kilogrammes per square centimetre, with an average rate of
combustion of 5 centimetres per second. These powders are therefore excellently
adapted for charging fire arms and especially for heavy guns. They also possess very
great stability and are not affected by damp. They may be granulated in the ordinary
way or be agglomerated with any suitable agglutinant such as collodion, gum, resin,
paraffin etc., or be simply compressed into grains of large or small size.
In order to increase or retard the combustion of the mixtures, a small quantity of
sulphur or other combustible agent whether nitrated or not and explosive or otherwise,
may be added.
[..:Lט
1001
E. TURPIN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Explosives.
1, EUGENE TURPIN of 18 Avenue Menelotte, Colombes (Seine) France, Chemist 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:
My Invention is based on the following principle-vizt.-that organic compounds
nitrated to any degree, either alone or united with chlorine, bromine, or iodine, will
when subjected to the action of a reducing agent such as iron, zinc, acetic
acid, hydro-sulphate of ammonia, pure or sulphuretted hydrogen, etc., form amido
derivatives.
I have found that the nitro-amido derivatives of phenol, benzine, naphthaline, etc.,
possess most remarkable explosive properties and may form (either singly or when
mixed together, either united or not with a base, and with or without the addition of
oxidizing agents such as nitrates, chlorates, chromates, manganates, etc.) an explosive
powder which may or may not be smokeless and which is adapted for all requirements
according to its nature, the degree of reduction of the nitrated compound and the
proportions of the mixture.
When ignited by a detonator of a sufficiently violent nature, very powerful
shattering effects are produced. When ignited by flame only and in a less violent
manner, it may be made to burn more or less rapidly and with or without smoke,
according to its method of preparation, and it constitutes an excellent progressive
powder for use in fire-arms, for charging projectiles, and for other military as well as
for blasting purposes.
For example, I take a trinitro-phenol (phenylic or cresylic) and I boil it with scrap-
iron or scrap-zinc alone, whereupon the trinitro-phenol owing to hydrogen being
disengaged in a nascent state undergoes a reduction which although falling short of
the production of picramic acid, is yet a very remarkable one. The crystallized or
more or less amorphous salt thus obtained, constitutes by itself when perfectly dry, an
explosive agent which though burning quietly in the open air is very well suited for
fire arms.
If the reduction be carried still further, either with the aid of acetic acid or by other
means, picramic acid is obtained which, either alone or combined with a base
(picrainate of soda or ammonia etc.) also forms an explosive powder. This picramic
acid or the picramate obtained by the aid of this amido-nitro body, forms an
excellent powder when mixed with an oxidizing agent either separately or in different
proportions.

page_text: furnished which is not dangerous to shocks, which is not endowed with explosively
shattering properties, and which if charged to a density of 0.4 tenths, indicates by the
crusher gauge, a pressure of about 3000 kilogrammes per square centimetre with
an average rate of combustion of 5 centimetres per second. These powders are
therefore excellently adapted for charging fire arms and especially for heavy guns.
They also possess very great stability and are not hygrometric. They may be granu-
lated in the ordinary way or be agglomerated with any suitable agglutinant such as
collodion, gum, resin, paraffin, etc., or be simply compressed into grains of large or
small size.
In order to increase or retard the combustion of the mixtures, a small quantity of
sulphur or other combustible agent, whether nitrated or not and explosive or otherwise,
may be added.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare, that what I claim is,
The employment of nitro-amido organic compounds, for the production of explosives
and more particularly the employment of the compounds herein specified.
Dated this 24th day of August 1887.
E. TURPIN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents