Abel heat test

Abel Heat Test A quick routine test for demonstrating the absence from explosives of impurities causing low thermal stability (see p. 72). 

Heat Test A rapid stability test depending on detection of traces of products of decomposition of an explosive at an elevated temperature. In Britain this usually refers to the Abel Heat Test. 

Heat Tests. Under this term may be placed all the stability tests which involve heating an explosive, eg Abel Heat Test, Acidity Measurements (pH measurements), American Test at 65.5° or 80°, Bergmann-Junk Test, Brame s Test, Brunswig s Test, Chiaraviglio Corbino Test, Conductivity Method (De Bruin de Pauw) Continuous Test, Deflagration Test, Desmaroux Test, Dupre s Vacuum Test, Dutch Test,... 

Jensen s Test is a combination of the deflagration test of Sy and the Abel Heat Test Ref Reilly (1938), pp 80 83... 

Abel Heat Test at 82.2° — 3 mins (NG 10 mins) Friction Sensitivity — very insensitive Impact Sensitivity — very insensitive Initiation by Detonators — incomplete with No 8 Briska Detonator in Trauzl Test Power by Ballistic Mortar — 62% Blasting Gelatin, which.corresponds to about 110% TNT Power by Trauzl Test — 106% TNT Thermal Stability at 120°— no brown fumes after 5 hours... 

Abel Heat Test at 82.2° — 30 seconds, vs 10 mins for NG Hygroscopicity - none... 

CDj) T. Urbanski, Vol 2(1965), pp 22-31 gives methods for determining the Stability of Nitric Esters, which include Abel Heat Test, Litmus Test (Vieille Test), Heat Test at 134.5°C, Silvered Vessel Test, Loss of Weight Test, Will Test, Bergmann Junk Test and Manometric Test... 

The stability of NG is normally checked by Abel Heat Test which is briefly described in Vol 1 of Encycl, p A2-L. The test conducted accdg to Spec M1L-N-246B is described below. Since the test is sensitive to the amt of w in NG, it is required to test each sample for moisture content... 

Abel heat test at 120°C 10 min without visible change... 

The Abel heat test (heating at a temperature of 75-80°C in the presence of standard potassium iodide-starch paper). 

Fra. 1. Test tube for the Abel heat test, Soviet pattern [85]. 

The chemical stability of dinitrochlorohydrin is higher than that of nitroglycerine. It withstands the Abel heat test at 72°C for 30 min. On heating at a temperature of 75°C, the first signs of decomposition and the development of acid fumes do not appear before 10-12 days. A small quantity of chlorohydrin dinitrate heated in a test tube undergoes decomposition with the evolution of oxides of nitrogen at temperature above 170°C. Complete decomposition takes place (without explosion at 180°C. Larger quantities of the substance decompose with a weak explosion, if heated rapidly to a temperature of about 190°C. 

During the various operations enumerated samples are taken to be checked in the laboratory for stability (Abel heat test), degree of fineness, etc. 

This last is the Abel heat test, usually used on less stable nitro-compounds. 

Abel Heat Test at 82.2° — 4 mins Gelatinizing Power for NC — molten material gelatinizes NC rapidly Initiation, Sensitivity to. It is incomplete when primed with No 6 cap with Tetryl base Power by Ballistic Mortar — 51% Blasting Gelatin... 

Mechanism cf the Abel Heat Test, The test depends upon the... 

Mercury in Abel heat test, 77 in mercury fulminate, estimation of, 60 in smokeless powders, estimatioin of, 54 Mercury fulminate, analysis of mixtures containing, 15a explosive properties of, 153 mixture fur )ercu5sioa caps,... 

CH,C1.CH(0H).CH2(0H)] and [CH,(OH).CHCl.CH (OH)]. These are separatee from the reaction mixture by fractional distillation under reduced pressure, and art afterwards nitrated alone or in admixture with glycerine. In the latter case tlu reaction is claimed to be less dangerous, and the separation quicker (Welter, Britisl Patent, 6,361, 1905). Dinitromonochlorhydrin is easily stabilised in the usual way and stands the Abel heat test for a much longer time than ordinary nitio-glyeerinc It is a pale yellow liquid with a faint aromatic smell, soluble in ether, alcohol acetone, chloroform, etc., and insoluble in water and acids. Its sp. gr. is 1.540. -at 15° C., and it boils at atmospheric pressure at i9o°-i93° C. If boiled uncle a pressure of 15 mm., no partial decomposition takes place, and it distils ove at 12o°-i 230 C. as a colourless oil. 

I. Abel Heat Test (Explosives Act, 1875).—The test paper is impregnated with potassium iodide and starch. (See paper by Robertson and Smart, Joum. Soc. Chem. Ind., Feb. 15, 1910). For detection of mercuric chloride or metallic mercury, the presence of which renders the Heat Test valueless, see method adopted by F. H. and P. V. Dupre, and described in the Annual Report of H.M. Inspectors of Explosives for 1907, p. 17. Hargreaves and Rowe (Joum. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1907, 26, 813) have worked out a method for the microscopic detection of mercury. 

Abel heat test at 30°C min. 30 minutes Nitrogen content min. 14.5%... 

The moisture should, however, be determined by the method devised by Mr Arthur Marshall, F.I.C., of the Royal Gunpowder Works, Waltham Abbey, which is carried out as follows —The cordite or other explosive is prepared in the manner laid down for the Abel heat test, that is t say, it is ground in a small mill, and that portion is selected which passes through a sieve having holes of the size of No. 8 wire gauge, but not through one with holes No. 14 wire gauge. 

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