Part 10

No. 1. No. 2. 1892. 1900. Fibrous Gelatinised 42-grain 30-grain bulk. dense.

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 13·0 71·1 ” soluble 60·5 20·1 Metallic nitrates 21·3 2·0 Shellac 3·2 -- Nitro-hydrocarbons -- 5·5 Moisture 2·0 1·3

=CORDITE= is the principal smokeless powder of the British Services. It was originally adopted in 1888, and is made by mixing nitroglycerine with guncotton and mineral jelly (a sort of crude vaseline), and incorporating them together with the aid of acetone, which gelatinises the guncotton. In consequence of the severe erosion of the guns experienced during the South African War the proportions were altered, some of the nitroglycerine being replaced by guncotton. The propellant thus “modified” is called Cordite M.D., whereas that of the original composition is Cordite Mk.I. Both are still in use, especially M.D.--

Mk. I. M.D.

Guncotton 37 65 Nitroglycerine 58 30 Mineral jelly 5 5

During the great European War a further variety was introduced to extend the basis of supply of solvents. This is called Cordite R.D.B. (Research Department B), and contains a nitrocotton of comparatively low nitration that can be gelatinised by means of a mixture of ether and alcohol--

Nitrocotton 52 Nitroglycerine 42 Mineral jelly 6

It is designed to give about the same ballistics as Cordite M.D. A further letter is sometimes added to show the form of the powder. Thus Cordite M.D.T. is M.D. pressed into tubes; S. stands for strip. The size is indicated by a numeral, which shows the diameter in hundredths of an inch of the die through which it has been pressed. In the case of tubular powder both the external and internal diameters are given approximately: e. g. Cordite M.D.T. 5-2.

Poudre blanche =CORNIL=.--A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, potassium or sodium nitrate, dinitro-naphthalene and lead chromate, with or without the addition of ammonium chloride.

=CORNISH POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive which passed the Woolwich Test and was formerly on the Permitted List, made by the National Explosives Co., Ltd.--

Nitroglycerine 55 Nitrocotton 3 Potassium nitrate 18 Wood meal 7 Magnesium sulphate 17

=CORONITE= was a coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type, which was on the Permitted List at one time. It had also been called Permittite.

Picric acid has been called by this name in Sweden.

See also =KORONIT=.

=COSILIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type made by Nahnsen. A published analysis gives its composition as--

Nitroglycerine 30 Sodium nitrate 22·3 Vegetable meal 40·5 Sodium chloride 7·2

=COTTON POWDER.= See =TONITE=, also =CP=.

=CP1= and =CP2= are varieties of nitrocotton (Coton Poudre) made in France, principally for the manufacture of Poudre B and other smokeless powders. CP1 is a guncotton containing about 13 per cent. of nitrogen, and only about 10 per cent. of matter soluble in ether-alcohol. CP2 is almost completely soluble in ether-alcohol, and contains about 12 per cent. of nitrogen.

=CRÉSYLITE.=--A French high explosive used for filling shell and other military purposes. Crésylite 60/40 consists of picric acid and nitrated cresol in about the proportions of 40 of the former to 60 of the latter. It melts below the temperature of boiling water. The nitrated cresol consists largely of trinitro-metacresol.

Crésylite No. 2 is simply crude trinitro-meta-cresol.

=CRONITE= is an American coal-mine explosive. There are two varieties on the Permissible List, Nos. 1 and 5, both of which are ammonium nitrate explosives.

=*CRYSTAL= is a smokeless shot-gun powder made by Curtis’s and Harvey. It is a non-solvent powder for cheap loading, and the charge is thirty-three grains.

=C.S.P.^2= (Chilworth Smokeless Powder, No. 2) is a modification of Cordite, containing a little sodium bicarbonate as a stabiliser. It is stated to have been adopted by the Brazilian navy (see “Engineering” for August 18, 1911, p. 237) and other powers.

=CUGNITE.=--A French blasting explosive manufactured by the Société Française des Explosifs--

Nitroglycerine 27 Nitrocotton 0·7 Ammonium nitrate 30 Sodium nitrate 30 Wood meal 11 Barium sulphate 1·3

=CURTISITE.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class made by Curtis’s and Harvey. It was formerly on the Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 88 Trinitro-toluene 8 Mononitro-naphthalene 4

=SUPER-CURTISITE= was a modification of the above to enable it to pass the Rotherham Test--