Book of Fires

At some early time, prior to 1000 A.D., an observant scientist recognized the unique properties of a blend of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal and black powder was developed as the first "modern" high-energy composition. A formula quite similar to the one used today was reported by Marcus Graecus ("Mark the Greek") in an 8th century work "Book of Fires for Burning the Enemy"... 

Cottrell, William H. The Book of Fire. Missoula, Mont. Mountain Press Publishing Company (in cooperation with the National Park Foundation), 2004. 

These proportions would give when calculated to percentage composition a less efficient mixture than those quoted from the Book of Fires, as shown in the following comparison ... 

Book of fires for burning the enemy, reprinted in full by Hoefer, Histoire de la chimie, second edition, Paris, 1866, Vol. 1, pp. 617-524, and discussed ibid., Vol. 1, p. 309. 

The use of antimony sulfide, Sb Sa, designated in the early writings simply as antimony, along with the saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, which were the standard ingredients of all pyrotechnic compositions, appears to have been introduced in the early part of the seventeenth century. John Bate s Book of Fire-w orks, 1635, containing information derived from the noted Professors, as Mr. Malthus, Mr. Norton, and the French Authour, Des Recreations Matheroatiques, mentions no mixtures which contain antimony. Typical of his mixtures are the follow ing. 

A. Tewarson, in SFPEH and book of Fire Protection Engineering, 2nd ed.. National Fire Protection Association Press, Quincy, MA, 1995, Section 3, Chapter 4, pp. 3-53-3-124. 

This information comes from a quite remarkable book. Crystal Fire The Birth of the Information Age (Riordan and Hoddeson 1997), which maps out systematically but very accessibly the events that led to the discovery of the transistor and the aftermath of that episode. I know of no better aceount of the interloeking sequence of events that led to eventual success, and of the personal characteristics of the principal participants that played such a great part in the story. 

The rapid growth and expansion of the chemical industry has been accompanied by a spontaneous rise in human, material, and property losses because of fires, explosions, hazardous and toxic spills, equipment failures, other accidents, and business interruptions. Concern over the potential consequences of catastrophic accidents, particularly at chemical and petrochemical plants, has sparked interest at both the industrial and regulatory levels in obtaining a better understanding of the subject of this book Health, Safety, and Accident Management (HS AM). The writing of this book was undertaken, in part, as a result of this growing concern. 

When handling flammable or combustible material, the resulting consequences could involve fire. Also, it is not uncommon for explosions involving flammable or combustible materials to be followed by fire, increasing the potential effects to building occupants. A detailed discussion on fire has not been included in this book because substantial literature is available on the effects of fire. Table 1.2 provides a number of references,... 

A book about the mystery of fire and the groups which use flame in their rituals or esoteric practices. He deals with five groupings of initiates who use flame or its representation in rituals or otherwise, addressing Kabbalism (Qabbalism), Hermeticism and Alchemy, Rosecrucianism, Freemasonry, and the Egyptians"... 

Lee, Tanith. Saint Fire. The secret books of Venus, no. 2. 

Baratov, A. N. et al., p.24 of BLL translation (628.74, issued 1966) of Russian book on Fire Prevention and Firefighting Symposium . The addition of bromomethane to ethylene oxide (used for germicidal sterilising) to reduce the risk of explosion is relatively ineffective, the inhibiting concentration being 31.2, as against 5.8 for hexane and 13.5 vol.% for hydrogen. 

Most fires involve the combustion of polymeric materials. Despite the involvement of polymers in fires, there have been no books on current research topics in this area of fire research in some years. Given the importance of fire and polymers as a social issue and the complexity and interest in the relevant basic science, Eli Pearce of Polytechnic University of New York and I cochaired a one-week symposium on fire and polymers. It was the first major symposium held on fire and polymers at an American Chemical Society National Meeting in about five years. 

ASTM Annual Book of Standards. Proposed method for room fire test of wall and ceiling materials and assemblies. American Society for Testing and Materials Philadelphia, PA, 1983 Vol. 04.07, pp. 958-978. 

This book is intended to be pedagogical, and not inclusive as a total review of the subject. It attempts to demonstrate that the subject of fire is a special engineering discipline built on fundamental principles, classical analyses and unique phenomena. The flow of the... 

Mr. Nolan has received numerous of safety awards and is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, National Fire Protection Association, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He is the author of the book "Application of HAZOP and What-If Safety Reviews to the Petroleum, Petrochemical and Chemical Industries," which is widely referred to within the petroleum and chemical industries. Mr. Nolan has also been listed in "Who s Who in California" for the last ten years and has been elected to appear in the 1996 International Edition of "Who s Who of Science and Engineering."... 

This book will assist organizations in making informed, risk-based decisions to determine the appropriate level of fire protection. 

Checklists are a valuable tool for documenting the inspection, test, and maintenance of fire protection equipment and systems. The CD-ROM accompanying this book contains checklists developed by one company. Many small and medium size companies may not have the resources to develop these checklists. 

That he might bring into one point of view, and compare the various changes effected by the agency of fire, Stahl invented a new Principle, which he named Phlogiston, and constructed an hypothesis which is generally known as the phlogistic theory. He explained, and applied, this hypothesis in various books, especially in one published at Halle in 1717. 

Cobb, Cathy, and Harold Goldwhite. Creations of Fire Chemistry s Lively History from Alchemy to the Atomic Age. New Y ork Basic Books, 2002. The authors, both chemists, describe the development of chemical knowledge—from the confusion of alchemists who tried to turn lead into gold to the onset of nuclear and quantum chemistry, where people learned to tame and harness the power of the atom. 

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