Part 26

=OAKLEY QUARRY POWDER= is a blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate and tetryl.

=OAKLITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd., which was on the old Permitted List--

No. 1. No. 2. Nitroglycerine 25·5 10 Collodion cotton 1 0·5 Potassium nitrate 34·5 -- Ammonium nitrate -- 79·3 Wood meal 38·7 10 Magnesium carbonate 0·3 0·2

=ODITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the New Explosives Co., and was on the old Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 88 Dinitro-benzene 12

=OPHORITE.=--A mild but hot explosive consisting of--

Potassium perchlorate 60 Magnesium powder 40

It is used as a bursting charge for incendiary shell, smoke bombs, etc.

=ORKANIT= is the same as Alkalsit, but may contain sodium chloride and similar salts.

=OXYLIQUIT= is a blasting explosive consisting of liquid oxygen absorbed in some porous combustile material, such as absorbent cork, soot or kieselguhr mixed with petroleum. It was discovered in 1895 by Prof. F. C. Linde, and was tried on a large scale in 1899 in the construction of the Simplon tunnel. It is very cheap, and is safe in the case of a missfire, because in about half-an-hour the oxygen has all evaporated off and the charge becomes inexplosive. On the other hand, it is necessary to have the air liquefying plant near the scene of operations, and the charge must be fired soon after charging. These disadvantages prevented the adoption of the explosive, but during the War fresh trials were made in Germany in consequence of the scarcity of nitrates.

Liquid oxygen explosives are now used on a considerable scale by the Germans for military, as well as civil blasting operations. The name Oxyliquit, however, seems only to be applied to them when the explosive is made in the manner and with the plant of the Linde Company. See also Marsit.

=PANCLASTITE.=--A Sprengel explosive made by mixing liquid nitrogen peroxide with carbon bisulphide, nitro-benzene or nitro-toluene. It was proposed in 1881 by Turpin, and was tried by Germany for filling shell, the two constituents being contained in separate glass containers, which were broken by the shock of discharge. It was not adopted there on account of the inconvenience of dealing with a liquid which gives off poisonous fumes. It is a powerful and violent explosive, and is probably the same as the “Turpinite” about which sensational statements were made in the press early in the War.

=PANNONIT.=--A blasting explosive made by the A. G. Dynamit Nobel of Austria. It has replaced Progressit in Austria as a coal-mine explosive. Its composition is--

Nitroglycerine 25·5 Collodion cotton 1·5 Ammonium nitrate 37 Dextrin 4 Glycerine 3 Nitro-toluene 5 Sodium or potassium chloride 24

=PASTANIL.=--A German ammonium nitrate blasting explosive similar to Plastammon.

=*P.C./88.=--A Swiss smokeless powder for small-arms consisting of--

Nitrocellulose 82 Trinitro-toluene 18

=PERAGON.=--A German blasting explosive containing potassium perchlorate, zinc-aluminium alloy, aromatic nitrocompounds and some other constituents.

=PERCHLORIT= is a German blasting explosive introduced recently. It contains ammonium nitrate, a perchlorate, mono- and dinitro-compounds, meal, charcoal, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine.

=PERDIT.=--An explosive used by the Germans for mining and demolitions and rifle grenades. It consists of--

Ammonium nitrate 76 Potassium perchlorate 6 Wood meal 2 Dinitro-toluene 16

=PERILIT.=--A German perchlorate blasting explosive made by the Koeln-Rottweil Pulverfabriken. It contains not more than 65 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, aromatic nitro-compounds, not more than 6 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin, flour, etc., and nitrates (but not more than 10 per cent. of potassium nitrate).

=PERKORONIT.= See Koronit.

=PERMON POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive which was on the Permitted List. It was made by the Carbonite Syndicate in Germany, and imported into Great Britain--

Date of Permit 25-11-13

Nitroglycerine 12 Collodion cotton 0·4 Ammonium nitrate 55 Sodium nitrate 1 Glycerine 4 Potato flour 10·6 Sodium chloride 17

Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·57”

The permit was repealed on 21-11-16.