Part 15

=FAVERSHAM POWDER= is a coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type made by the Cotton Powder Co. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, had the composition--

Ammonium nitrate 90 Trinitro-toluene 10

To make it pass the Rotherham Test, part of the ammonium nitrate was replaced by potassium nitrate, and ammonium chloride was added--

No. 2. Date of Permit 10-2-14

Ammonium nitrate 47·5 Potassium nitrate 24 Ammonium chloride 18·5 Trinitro-toluene 10

Limit charge 24 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”

but this also has now been repealed.

=FAVIER= explosives consist essentially of ammonium nitrate mixed with nitro-compounds. Favier took out patents in 1884 and 1885 for mixtures of ammonium nitrate with mononitro-naphthalene, paraffin and resin. Their manufacture was undertaken soon afterwards by the French Government, and is still continued under the names of Explosifs N, or Explosifs Favier or Grisounites. Their composition has been varied from time to time, but the following are those now authorised--

Grisou-naphtalite- Grisou-naphtalite-. couche. roche. N1 a. N4. N_1 b.

Ammonium nitrate 95 90 91·5 86·5 Potassium nitrate -- 5 -- 5 Dinitro-naphthane -- -- 8·5 8·5 Trinitro-naphthalene 5 5 -- -- Tetryl -- -- -- --

For mines free from Grisou-tetrylite-couche. fire-damp, etc. N_1 c.

Ammonium nitrate 88 87·4 Potassium nitrate 5 -- Dinitro-naphthane -- 12·6 Trinitro-naphthalene -- -- Tetryl 7 --

The Grisounites-couche are used in the coal seams as they have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1500° or less, but N1 a has been replaced to a considerable extent by N4, because the presence of a proportion of potassium nitrate is found to increase the safety; these are both coloured green. The Grisounites-roche have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1900° or less, and are used in the rocks in coal mines. N1 b is dyed rose colour, and N1 c pale yellow.

Many explosives of this type are in use in different countries. On the old British Permitted List were Ammonite, Westfalite, Bellite and Roburite amongst others. Those now on the List contain ammonium or sodium chloride to enable them to pass the Rotherham Test, e.g. the later Ammonites, Bellite Nos. 2 and 4, Faversham Powder and Negro Powder.

On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Favier II bis--

Ammonium nitrate 77·6 Dinitro-naphthalene 2·4 Ammonium chloride 20

Charge limite More than 293 grammes.

=FAVORIT.= See =KORONIT.=

=*FELIXITE= is a smokeless shot-gun powder introduced in 1906 by the New Explosives Company. It is a fibrous 42-grain bulk powder, and, according to an analysis published in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, has the composition--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 40·5 ” soluble 20·5 Metallic nitrates 30·0 Nitro-compound 5·0 Vaseline 2·7 Moisture 1·3

=*FILITE= was a smokeless powder formerly used in the Italian services. It was a Ballistite consisting generally of equal parts of nitroglycerine and collodion cotton, to which 0·5 to 1 per cent. of aniline or diphenylamine was added as a stabiliser. It was gelatinised with a solvent and drawn out into cords.

=FLAMMIVORE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive made at Arendonck--

O. Ammonium nitrate 70 Barium nitrate 15 Cellulose 5 Dinitro-toluene 10

Charge limite 100g.

I. Blasting gelatine 4 Ammonium nitrate 82 Potassium nitrate 10 Rye flour 4

Charge limite 500g.

III. Nitroglycerine 6 Ammonium nitrate 70 Ammonium sulphate 9 Barium sulphate 7 Dextrin 8

Charge limite 650g.