Part 4

Insoluble nitrocotton 18·6 Soluble ” 46·0 Nitrates of potassium and barium 28·0 Vaseline 6·0 Volatile matter 1·4

This is still on the market. It is a fibrous 42-grain bulk powder.

*=AMIDE POWDER= or Chilworth Special Powder was an early attempt at a smokeless powder. Under the name of Amidpulver it was used by the German artillery for some years in the ’eighties of the last century. Its composition was--

Ammonium nitrate 35-38 Potassium nitrate 40-46 Charcoal 14-22

See also Ammonpulver and Hebler Powder.

=AMMONAL= is a blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, aluminium powder, charcoal, and generally trinitro-toluene. It was patented in 1900 by G. Roth of Vienna, and the following are some of the compositions made by his firm at Felixdorf in Austria--

a b c d Ammonium nitrate 80·75 90 88 80 Aluminium 15 4 8 18 Charcoal 4·25 6 4 2

More violent mixtures made by the same firm are--

I II Ammonium nitrate 46 32 Trinitro-toluene 30 50 Aluminium 22 16 Charcoal 2 2

and modifications of this have been used largely in the British service. It is not suitable for use in underground workings as it forms on explosion the poisonous gas carbon monoxide, unless the proportion of ammonium nitrate be large. It has been used for charging grenades, and by the Austrians for trench howitzer bombs.

When the explosive is detonated, the aluminium is converted into the oxide, evolving no gas, but a considerable amount of heat, which increases the power of the explosive. The aluminium powder also renders the explosive easier to detonate.

Three explosives of this type passed the Woolwich Test, and were on the old Permitted List for coal mines, namely, Ammonal B, Ripping Ammonal and Saint Helen’s Powder (q. v.).

Ripping Ammonal B. Ammonal. Ammonium nitrate 94·5 86 Aluminium 3 8 Charcoal 2·5 2·5 Potassium bichromate -- 3·5

No explosives containing aluminium are on the present Permitted List.

=AMMONCAHUECIT=} =CAHUECIT=. } See =AMMONCARBONIT=} =CARBONIT=.

=AMMONIAKKRUT= was the first ammonium nitrate explosive. It was invented by J. Ohlsson and J. H. Norrbin, two Swedes, and was protected by English Patent 2766 of 1869. It consisted of ammonium nitrate together with 5 or 10 per cent. of charcoal, coal dust, etc., to which mixture was added 10 to 30 per cent. of nitroglycerine to make it less difficult to detonate.

=AMMONITE= is a coal-mine explosive of the Favier type, made by the Miners’ Safety Explosives Co. The original composition, which passed the Woolwich Test was--

Ammonium nitrate 88 Dinitro-naphthalene 12

To pass the more severe Rotherham Test a number of compositions have been made and approved, but some of them have been repealed. Those now on the Permitted List are--

Ammonite Ammonite. Ammonite No. 1. No. 5. Date of Permit 29-8-14 5-11-17 2-8-18 Ammonium nitrate 74·5 73·5 74·5 Dinitro-naphthalene -- 5·5 -- Trinitro-naphthalene -- -- 5 Trinitro-toluene 5 -- -- Sodium chloride 20·5 21 20·5

Limit charge 24 18 26 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·42 2·44 2·41”

Ammonite No. 1 is used on a considerable scale in coal mines. A non-permitted explosive called Ripping Ammonite is also made.

*=AMMONPULVER= is a propellant which was used by the Austrians from 1890 to 1896 in guns of various calibres--

Ammonium nitrate 80-90 Charcoal 10-20

It was superseded by a powder of the ballistite type, but has been reintroduced recently by the Germans to replace a part of the charge of nitrocellulose powder in their field gun. The advantages claimed for it are small erosion of the gun, absence of muzzle flame, chemical stability, and cheapness. On the other hand, it gives high pressures, and if used by itself requires a gun with a specially large chamber; but the most serious objection to it is that on keeping, physical changes take place in the pellets, leading to the production of very high pressures. It is said that moisture promotes these changes. See also Amide Powder.

=AMVIS.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 90 Wood meal 5 Dinitro-benzene } Chlorinated naphthalene } 5

=Neu ANAGON.=--A German blasting explosive containing not more than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, zinc-aluminium alloy and charcoal.