Gunpowder, black

Gunpowder, Black. Brit for Black Powder, which is described in Vol 2 of Encycl, pp B165-L to B175-R... 

Potassium nitrate (together with sulfur and charcoal) is used in the manufacture of gunpowder (black powder). When such a mixture is ignited by means of a spark, both gaseous and solid decomposition products are produced in the resulting explosive reaction, which is quite complex. Black powder is used in the manufacture of ammunition for small firearms, in the production of time fuses, and as a blasting powder in mining operations. 

The compositions by R.Lancaster(P.Lancaster Fireworks, principles and practice,p.89(1972)) contain gunpowder(black powder), sulphur, potassium nitrate, charcoal etc., and the twinkling or glittering effect might be caused by the Senko-Hanabi reaction of the cinder. 

Although the earliest explosive was gunpowder (black powder), consisting of sulfur, potassium nitrate (as oxidizing agent) and charcoal, it was the discovery of nitroglycerine (in 1847), of trinitrotoluene (TNT, in 1863) and of dynamite (made in... 

Sulfur is a component of black gunpowder, and is used in the vulcanization of natural rubber and a fungicide. It is also used extensively in making phosphatic fertilizers. A tremendous tonnage is used to produce sulfuric acid, the most important manufactured chemical. 

See also under Black Powder or Gunpowder inVol 2, B165-R ff Ref Sancho (1941), 253-85... 

Powder,- Black. See Black Powder or Gunpowder in Vol 2, B165-R ff... 

Potassium nitrate is best known as the oxidizing agent in old-fashioned black powder gunpowder, which is 75 percent potassium nitrate by weight. The other ingredients are 15 percent charcoal and 10 percent sulfur. 

People love the spectacle of fireworks. From Bastille Day in France to Guy Fawkes Day in Britain, from Chinese New Year to Canada Day, fireworks bring joy to celebrations all around the world. In the United States, about 100 million worth of fireworks are discharged every year in honor of Independence Day. Fireworks date back more than 1000 years to the discovery of black powder in China. This first gunpowder was brought to Europe during the Middle Ages and was used widely in weapons, in construction, and for fireworks. 

Nitric acid and nitrates are important chemicals. For example, black powder (also known as gunpowder) has been used for centuries, and it is a mixture containing 75% KN03, 15% C, and 10% S. The mixture is made into flakes while wet and then dried. Except for large guns on naval vessels, it has been replaced by nitrocellulose (smokeless) powder that also contains small amounts of certain additives. 

Autoignition of fresh charcoal, but not gunpowder prepared from it, is known to have happened in the black powder industry. (Optimum charcoal for gunpowder production is well short of being fully carbonised). 

Similar to the history of many other elements, iodine s discovery was serendipitous in the sense that no one was looking for it specifically. In 1811 Bernard Courtois (1777—1838), a French chemist, attempted to remove sodium and potassium compounds from the ash of burned seaweed in order to make gunpowder. After removing these chemicals from the ash, he added sulfuric acid (H SO j) to the remaining ash. However, he mistakenly added too much acid, which produced a violet-colored vapor cloud that erupted from the mixture. This violet vapor condensed on all the metallic objects in the room, leaving a layer of sohd black iodine crystals. Sir Humphry Davy (1778—1829) confirmed this discovery of a new element and named it iodine after the Greek word iodes, which means violet, but it was Courtois who was given credit for the discovery of iodine. 

When black powder is used to propel rockets it is classed as a composite propellant (where the fuel and oxidiser are intimately mixed) and forms part of a rocket motor in which the powder is compressed to form a monolithic single grain inside a combustion chamber as shown in Figure 3.1. As well as gunpowder, the composite propellant mix will contain a binder which is used to improve the cohesion of the ingredients. Binders form a distinct phase and tend to reduce the sensitiveness of the propellant to shock and impact. When based on organic materials, as is normally the case, they will serve as part of the fuel component also. 

BLACK POWDER (synonymous with Gunpowder) An intimately milled mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal that has propellant or explosive properties. 

Skipping about two centuries, the activities of one experimenter typify the development of early black powder. His work took place between about 1235 and 1290 ad and he is reputed to have been the first scholar in Northern Europe who was skilled in the use of black powder. In essence, his work provided the backbone of all early chemical purification and formulation, without which the development of true gunpowders would not have been possible. His name was Roger Bacon (Figure 1.1). 

Guns were invented shortly after Bacon s death in about 1292 and so he never used the term gunpowder . However, he had certainly had experience of fireworks for which his early black powder recipe would have been perfectly suitable. In the Opus Majus he wrote ... 

This sand [said Mr. Gregor] is found in large quantity in a valley of the Menachan parish in the county of Cornwall. Through this valley there flows a stream whose principal source is in the valleys of Gonhilly. The sand is black, and in external appearance resembles gunpowder. Its grains are of various sizes, but have no definite shape. It is mixed with another dirty-white sand, the grains of which are much finer.. . . ... 

No description of British devices corresponding to US electric squibs is found in Brit books on explosives in our possession, such as Refs 36, 38 51. In Ref 38, p 59 is, however, a description of an electric device which probably serves the same purpose. It is an electric powder fuse, which consists of a thick paper tube contg a small chge of Blasting Powder (Brit for Black Powder or Gunpowder), with an ordinary low-tension fusehead fixed at one end. On passing electric current thru the fusehead it flashes and sets off the BkPdr in the tube, which can... 

Numerous mixtures have been proposed for ignition of explosives. Of these, the most commonly used are mealed gunpowder, finely grained Black Powder, nitrocellulose mixed with other substances finely divided smokeless powders mixed with other substances... 

Black Powder. Kokushokuyaku (Black Color Explosive) or Yuenyaku (Nonsmokeless Powder) Gunpowder — Kayaku. Black, loose-powdery material consisting of K nitrate, sulfur charcoal. It was used during WWII for the follow-... 

Gunpowder. Kayaku or Black Powder. Koku-shokuyaku, also called Yuenyaku (Nonsmoke-less Powder)... 

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