Explosive substances chlorates

Perchlorate explosives, like chlorate explosives, can be compressed to a high density, but the detonation at a high density is difficult. This is illustrated by a graph published by the French Commission on Explosives (Commission des Substances Explosives) (Fig. 75) [80] which shows how the rate of detonation and the amount of mercury fulminate required for detonation varies with density. 

Leather gloves are useful, also, to prevent flash burns, which can be severe. The hand protectors described on page 48 are required when working with materials like potassium chlorate or other explosive substances. 

Explosive Substance. This, according to an English patent, consists of 9 parts of potassium chlorate, 2 of carbohydrate (sugar), 1 of flour, and 1 of fer-rocyanide of potassium. 

Before nitrates and particularly ammonium nitrate were readily available commercially, explosives were developed based on chlorates and perchlorates. These also are still used in some countries. In general perchlorates are considered less dangerous than chlorates and therefore preferred. They are easily sensitised, so that in addition to explosives of this type based on nitroglycerine, others have been based on various organic liquids, particularly nitrobodies. History shows that chlorates and perchlorates must be regarded as temperamental substances, liable in bulk to lead to inexplicable accidents. Particularly when mixtures of chlorates and oxidising materials are allowed to become wet and then dry out, conditions can arise in which there is an appreciable sensitiveness to friction and impact. Explosives of this type have an unfortunate record of accidents. They are used, therefore, to a limited extent only, now that safer compositions are available. 

Yet another important feature of inorganic oxidisers such as potassium nitrate rests with the nature of the atoms forming the chemical bonds. Many pyrotechnic compositions rely on chlorates, perchlorates or nitrates as high-energy oxidisers whilst high explosives commonly are based on nitrated organic substances. The reason for this lies with the electronegativity of the atoms concerned. 

Jones Blasting Explosives. Jones patented the following compn chlorates such as NaC103 are used with finely divided carbonaceous substances the o-isomer of nitrotoluene, which-keeps the mixt plastic. The chlorate may be mixed with a powdered carbonaceous absorbent material such as sawdust a liq mixt of o-nitrotoluene melted TNT Ref L.T.W. Jones, USP 1820567 1820568 (1931) CA 25, 5771 (1931)... 

These substances have a variable composition depending upon the reaction conditions, chiefly the concentration of the reagents used. Salvadori [119] called attention to the interesting explosive properties of the chlorates and perchlorates of complex ammines of the type ... 

The molecular composition of picric acid was established in the early ninteenth century when it was the only highly-nitrated aromatic compound then known. It was evident that its oxygen content was insufficient for complete combustion (to C02 and H20). This was considered to be an adequate foundation for the erroneous theory that, because of its insufficient oxygen content, the substance has no explosive properties. It was believed that explosive properties are achieved only by mixing picric acid with oxidizing agents such as chlorates, or sodium or potassium nitrates. 

The converse obviously applies to ammonium nitrate explosives, which must not contain any chlorates, since during storage a double exchange reaction may occur resulting in the formation of ammonium chlorate (p. 476, Vol. II), an unstable substance which decomposes spontaneously. A number of patents were taken out between 1880 and 1895, for explosives based on the use of ammonium chlorate or mixtures of ammonium nitrate with potassium or sodium chlorate. Many accidents which occurred through the spontaneous decomposition of these explosives proved the impossibility of using mixtures containing both chlorates and ammonium salts (Hantke [79]). 

If the explosive contains a liquid organic substance, it is prepared, as stated above, by filling the paper cases with chlorate and dipping them into the liquid. 

Ammonium chlorate, NH4C103, is a substance that undergoes explosive decomposition according to the equation ... 

Suggestion that ethylenediamine chlorate might be used in explosive manufacture was made by Stahler [4] who reported the substance to be a very strong explosive, sensitive to impact. So far it has not found commercial application. 

Note The Boccess of this prcpMStfon depends entirely on cane fnl temperature eontrol of the high-temperature fusion. It is advisable, but not essential, to keep a clean clamped thermometer (range to 500 0) immersed in the reaction mixture during the experiment. Bear in mind that metallic catalysts and especially organic substances such as dust, paper, or cloth may cause violent and even explosive decomposition of the molten potassium chlorate. He crudble or dish used for the fusion should therefore be scrupulously dean and preferably new. 

Refs 1)E.Street, EngP 9970( 1897) FrP 267407(1897) JSCI 17, 375( 1898)(Expls obtained by coating the grains of K chlorate with nitrocompds dissolved in oils by heating at 40-60°, with stirring followed by cooling) la) CSE(Commi ssion des Substances Explosives),... 

Properties of Chlorate Explosives. In general, expls based on chlorates are very powerful and brisant, but are very sensitive to friction and impact. Coating of particles of chlorates with substances such as castor oil, rosin, paraffin, tar, aromatic nitrocompds, crude rubber, vaselin, pertoleum, plastic materials, diminish considerably the sensitiveness but not sufficiently to make these expls suitable for loading artillery shells(See CHEDDITES) The chlorate expls are more sensitive than those contg perchlorates, and expls contg Na chlorate are more sensitive than those with K chlorate. Expls contg K or Na chlorate should not be mixed with Amm salts because, in this case, double decomp takes place with the formation of Amm chlorate which can explode spontaneously. It also is advisable not to use either PA or.TNCrs in chlorate expls, because such mixts are very sensitive(Ref 7,p 383). These precautions were not always followed... 

CSE (Explosifs). These expls were developed after WWII at the laboratory of Commission des Substances Explosives (CSE) in France. One group of expls based on chlorates or perchlorates is described uhder CHEDDITES OR STREETITES. See compn designated 55-CSE -1948 58-CSE-1948 in Table 4, Vol 2, p C159. These are called "Explosifs du type OC ... 

Many chlorate mixtures, particularly those which contain sulfur, sulfides, and picric acid, are extremely sensitive to blows and to friction. In the Street explosives, later called Cheddites because they were manufactured at Chedde in France, the chlorate is phlegmatized by means of castor oil, a substance which appears to have remarkable powers in this respect. The French Commission des Substances Explosives in 1897 commenced its first investigation of these explosives by a study of those which are listed below, and concluded 35 that their sensitivity to shock is... 

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