Fulminating compositions

VERTICAL SECTION OF "JELLY BAG" PLANT FOR MIXING FULMINATE COMPOSITIONS... 

A railway torpedo consists of a flat tin box, of about an ounce capacity, filled with a fulminating composition and having a strip of lead, soldered to it, which may be bent in order to hold it in place upon the railroad track. It explodes when the first wheel of the locomotive strikes it, and produces a signal which is audible to the engineer above the noise of the train. Railway tor-... 

A No. 8 detonator containing 2 g. of the ordinary fulminating composition is equalled by one containing only 0.5 g. together with 0.7 g. of trinitrotoluene. 

Explosives derived from Benzene—Toluene and Nitro-Benzene-Di- and Tri-nitro-Benzene-Roburite Properties and Manufacture-Bellite Properties, c.-Securite—Tonite No. 3.-Nitro-Toluene-Nitro-Naphthalene—Ammonite-Sprengel s Explosives-Picric Acid- Picrates-Picric Powders—Melinite-Abel s Mixture—Bmgere s Powders- The Fulminates-Composition, Formula, Preparation, Danger of, c.- Detonators Sizes, Composition, Manufacture—Fuses, c. 

Having the same atomic composition as cyanates but drastically different properties are the fulminates, which contain CNO-. Many organic compounds having the formula R-N-C-O are known (the isocyanates). Cyanides undergo an addition reaction with sulfur to produce thiocyanates. 

Tetrazene (C2H8N10O) is a pale yellow crystalline explosive generally used in ignition caps, where a small amount is added to the explosive composition to improve its sensitivity to percussion and friction. Tetrazene is not suitable for filling detonators because its compaction properties make the transition from burning to detonation very difficult. This primary explosive is stable in ambient temperatures. Its ignition temperature is lower and it is slightly more sensitive to impact than mercury fulminate. 

Besides fuze primer compositions OS 866 Fulminate Mixture (Navy), FA70 Wet Mixture (Army and Navy), and New No 4 Mixture (Army) listed in Figs 3-5, 3-6, 3-7, 3-8 8c 3-9, (our Figs 1-38 to 1-42 incl) the following mixtures were also used (Ref 23, p 2- 10) ... 

LSt, Normal (111) MF (Mercuric Fulminate) (112) Specification Tests of Multiple Component Primer Compositions) (Methods 201 to 212)... 

At the beginning of the twentieth century the thiocyanates (rhodanates) of certain metals (e.g. mercury, copper) were recommended as components of cap compositions with potassium chlorate. The rhodanates were intended as a substitute for mercury fulminate, but only lead rhodanate acquired any practical significance. 

P 1366 — Analysis of Compositions Containing Mercury Fulminate and Potassium Chlorate... 

Ko vac he, MP 32, 377-81 (1950) (Erosion of Sporting firearms caused by priming mixtures was smaller when using Lead Styphnate-Tetracene mixtures than compositions contg Mercuric Fulminate) 35). Comer, Theory of the Interior Ballistics of Guns , Wiley,... 

This reaction, together with its products, has been studied by a number of chemists, including Liebig, who gave an account of the elementary chemical composition of fulminate in 1823. The mechanism of the reaction which results in the formation of mercury fulminate was reported by Wieland and by Solonina in 1909 and 1910, respectively. 

Only one of the acetylides(cuprous acetylide) has found application in industry as an ingredient of electric detonators. Some acetylides, as for instance, that of silver, arc probably suitable for use in primers and detonators. They also may be incorporated in LA-based compositions for expl rivets in order to reduce their ignition point(Ref 6) According to Sax(Ref 6) the toxicity of acetylides is unknown, but their expln hazards are considered to be the same as those of fulminates and azides. The acetylides must be handled with extreme care and In storage they must be kept cool and wet. Metal powders, such as finely divided Cu or Ag, should be excluded. Shipping regulations are the same as for other primary and initiating explosives Refs l)Beil 1,238-40,(104 6),[217-20] ... 

---