Part 31

*Poudre =S= is a shot-gun powder made by the French Government. It consists of--

Guncotton 37 Soluble nitrocotton 28 Potassium nitrate 6 Barium nitrate 29 Moisture 2

The ingredients are incorporated together under light edge runners, dried and partially gelatinised with 35 per cent. of ether-alcohol. The dough, which is not very coherent, is formed into grains by simply passing it through a sieve. The grains are dried, sifted, hardened if necessary with ether-alcohol, and again dried and sifted.

=SABULITE= is a blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene and calcium silicide. The last constituent increases the heat of explosion and renders the mixture more sensitive both to detonation and to blows; it plays the same part as the aluminium powder in Ammonal.

Ammonium nitrate 78 Trinitro-toluene 8 Calcium silicide 14

This composition was modified by the Belgian Sabulite Co. to render it suitable for use in coal mines: by introducing some potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride it was able to pass the tests, and obtain a place on the list of “explosifs S.G.P.”--

Sabulite antigri- souteuse A.

Ammonium nitrate 54 Potassium nitrate 22 Ammonium chloride 13 Trinitro-toluene 6 Calcium silicide 5

Sabulite has been used as a military high explosive.

=SAFETY BLASTING POWDER.= See =CAHUECIT=.

=SALIT= or Wittenberger Wetterdynamit is a German coal-mine explosive. The following is an analysis--

Ammonium nitrate 53·6 Nitroglycerine 11·8 Collodion cotton 0·5 Dinitro-toluene 8·5 Dextrin 2·5 Sodium chloride 23·1

=SAMSONITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List. It is now no longer permitted for use in dangerous coal mines but is still used for general purposes.

Nitroglycerine 58·5 Collodion cotton 3·5 Potassium nitrate 18 Wood meal 6·5 Ammonium oxalate 13·5

During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate, and the nitroglycerine was reduced to 50 per cent.

Nos. 2 and 3 have passed the Rotherham Test and are on the Permitted List--

No. 2. No. 3. Date of Permit 25-1-19 25-1-19 Nitroglycerine 51·5 51·5 Collodion cotton 3 3 Amide compound 0·2 0·3 Potassium perchlorate 11 -- Sodium nitrate -- 10 Borax 23·3 25·2 Potassium chloride 10 -- Sodium chloride -- 10 Moisture 1 -- Limit charge 26 24 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·49 2·42”

=SAXONITE= was the predecessor of Samsonite on the old Permitted List. It has practically the same composition, but wide limits are allowed. It also is used for general purposes. During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate.

Ammon-=SCHLESIT= or Kohlen-=SCHLESIT= is a German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate and other nitrates, nitro-compounds, starch, neutral salts, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and not more than 2 per cent. of potassium perchlorate.

=SCHNEIDERITE= is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell. Its composition is the same as the Favier explosive N_1 c.

=*SCHULTZE POWDER= was the first successful smokeless powder made. It was invented by Capt. E. Schultze of the Prussian Artillery, who appears at first simply to have impregnated little grains of wood with saltpetre (Eng. Pat. 900 of 1864). But later the wood cellulose was purified and nitrated, and then mixed with nitrates. The powder has remained the same as this until the present day, although the methods of manufacture have been developed and, indeed, revolutionised more than once. In “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 75, the following analyses of different brands were given--

Sawdust. Schultze. Imperial. Cube. Lightning. Date introduced 1869 1883 1902 1908 1913 Charge for 42 42 33 30 33 12-bore grns. Fibrous. Fibrous. Fibrous. Gelatinised. Fibrous. Nitrocellulose, insoluble} 25·0 63·7 62·1 55·0 ” soluble} 64·8 40·0 18·9 27·0 27·0 Metallic nitrates 33·0 29·0 8·0 5·0 11·2 Vaseline -- 4·0 7·6 4·0 5·0 Moisture 2·2 2·0 1·8 1·9 1·8

The nitrocellulose in all cases has been made from wood cellulose. All the powders are of the bulk type.

Schultze powder is also made in America as a 36-grain fibrous bulk powder--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 4·9 ” soluble 78·5 Metallic nitrates 10·5 Vaseline 3·7 Moisture 2·4

=SEAMEX= is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd.--

Nitroglycerine 10 Ammonium nitrate 58 Wheat flour 20 Sodium chloride 12

Limit charge 36 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2.54”