Part 6

Explosives of the Astralit type have also been used extensively by the Germans for filling trench howitzer shell and similar projectiles. The following is approximately the composition used for this purpose--

Nitroglycerine 3 Nitrocotton 0·5 Ammonium nitrate 77 Trinitro-toluene 16 Wood meal 3·5

This explosive was authorised in England under the name of Australite.

=ATLAS POWDER.=--A brand of American straight dynamite.

=AUSTRALITE.= See =ASTRALIT=.

*=AXITE.= A smokeless powder made by Kynoch, Ltd., and used for sporting rifles. It is a sort of Cordite MD, with a little of the guncotton replaced by potassium nitrate, and is in the form of flat strips. A sample had the composition--

Nitroglycerine 29·7 Guncotton 63·1 Potassium nitrate 1·9 Mineral jelly 5·1 Volatile matter 0·2

*=B.=--Poudre B is the French service propellant. It consists of nitrocotton gelatinised with ether-alcohol, in which it is partly soluble. A little diphenylamine is added to increase the stability. Formerly, various other additions have been made. A letter or letters are added to show the size of the powder and the purpose for which it is used--

Poudre BF for rifles (from fusil). BNF a later powder for rifles (from nouveau). BC for field guns (from campagne). BSP for siege howitzers (from siège et place). BGC for larger military guns (from gros calibre). BM for naval ordnance (from marine); a figure is added to show the size.

Further letters and figures are added to show other particulars about the powder; D2 means 2 per cent. of diphenylamine has been added as a stabiliser, or AM8, 8 per cent. of amyl alcohol. The place and date of manufacture are similarly indicated.

=BAELENITE.=--A Belgian mining explosive--

I. II. Ammonium nitrate 85 95 Trinitro-toluene 15 5

Charge limite 0 75

It is authorised for manufacture in, or importation into the United Kingdom.

*=BALLISTITE.=--One of the first military smokeless powders, invented by Nobel. It consisted of about equal parts of nitroglycerine and soluble nitrocotton incorporated together under water, then passed repeatedly through rolls and cut into flakes. It was adopted by a number of Continental powers, but in consequence of the severe erosion of the guns which it caused, it has been modified or abandoned. The percentage of nitroglycerine is reduced, and consequently it is necessary to use a solvent such as acetone. A little mineral jelly or other stabiliser is sometimes added.

=BARATOL.=--A mixture of barium nitrate and trinitro-toluene.

=BARBARIT.=--A German chlorate explosive made at the Sprengstoff-fabriken Kriewald bei Gleinitz.

Potassium chlorate 90-92 High-boiling petroleum 8-10

The petroleum has a flash point not below 105° C., and commences to boil not below 242°.

Gelatine-Barbarit has the composition--

Potassium chlorate 80 Trinitro-toluene 10 Liquid mono- and dinitro-toluenes gelatinised } with 5 per cent. collodion cotton } 10

=BARKING POWDER.=--A mixture of ammonium perchlorate and nitrated naphthalene, formerly used in coal mines.

=BAUTZENER SICHERHEITSPULVER.=--A German coal-mine explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, barium nitrate, and not more than 15 per cent. of trinitro-toluene.

=BAVARIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive similar to Grisounite. It contains 90 per cent. of ammonium nitrate together with nitrated naphthalene; charcoal may be added.

=BELLITE= is essentially a mixture of ammonium nitrate and metadinitro-benzene. It has been used extensively as a coal-mine explosive, and was patented by C. Lamm of Stockholm in 1885. Two varieties passed the Woolwich Test and were on the old Permitted List--

No. 1. No. 3. Ammonium nitrate 83·5 93·5 Dinitro-benzene 16·5 6·5

No. 1 contains just enough oxygen for complete combustion, and No. 3 contains a large excess of oxygen. To enable the explosive to pass the Rotherham Test sodium chloride has been added. There were four varieties on the present Permitted List, but all except the following, No. 1, have been repealed--

No. 1. Date of Permit 3-2-16 Ammonium nitrate 63·5 Dinitro-benzene 15 Sodium chloride 16·5 Starch 5