Modem Explosives

NH3) are of great commercial importance practically all modem explosives contain high proportions of ammonium nitrate or organic nitro-compounds. Nitrates are also employed as fertilizers. 

W. Taylor, "Modem Explosives", The Royal Institute of Chemistry Monograph No 5, London, WCl (1959) 63pp... 

W.Taylor, "Modem Explosives , Royal Institute of Chemistry, Monograph No 5, London WCI (1959)... 

The papers which are cited in this connection have been published in English in the book by George W. MacDonald, Historical Papers on Modem Explosives, Whittaker Co., London and New York, 1912. 

Before one can even contemplate the manufacture of blasting caps, it is vital that he acquire a good understand-ing of the concept of primary ignition in explosives. Primary ignition is understood by most outdoorsmen today, but it was actually first discovered in 1863 by the father of modem explosives, Alfred Nobel. 

This chapter will seek to answer the question Why do standards ask for specified temperatures of windings, for limited gap and joint values and for restricted voltages and currents in electric circuits The following intends to clarify the physical background of the standards technical content, to explain the methods of explosion protection in electrical engineering, and demonstrate modem explosion protected apparatus to give an appreciation of the bandwidth of the different types of protection. 

To start with the latter Figs 6.1-6.8 give an impression of environmental conditions at the place of duty for modem explosion protected equipment, and at the same time, they may anticipate its efficiency and power as well as its broad range of application. 

The history of modem explosives commenced with the discoveries of nitroglycerin and of nitrocellulose. At about the time that Sobrero first prepared nitroglycerin, Schonbein at Basel and Bottger at Frankfort-on-the-Main independently of each other nitrated cotton, perceived the possibilities in the product, and... 

The utility of explosives lay in the strongly energetic and exothermic reaction initiated upon detonation or ignition. Most modem explosives are reasonably stable and require percussive shock or other triggering devices for detonation. Fortunately, subsurface Explosives-Associated Compounds (XAC) contamination usually occurs as dilute, aqueous solutions and thus presents no explosion hazard. However, masses of pure crystalline explosive material have been encountered in soils associated with wastewater lagoons, leach pits, bum pits, and perhaps firing ranges. 

The following tables, taken from Messrs William Macnab s and E. Ristori s paper ( Proc. Roy. Soc., 56, 8-19), "Researches on Modem Explosives," are very interesting. They record the results of a large number of experiments made to determine the amount of heat evolved, and the quantity and composition of the gases produced when certain explosives and various smokeless powders were fired in a closed vessel from which the air had been previously exhausted. The explosions were carried out in a "calorimetric bomb" of Berthelot s pattern. [A]... 

A simple explosive like black powder is a mixture. The oxygen source is potassium nitrate, and the fuel is charcoal with sulfur added to aid the burning. Flour and air is even a simpler explosive but powerful enough to blow a grain elevator apart. Even the most modem explosives still use a... 

S. Levy, Modem Explosives (London Pitman Sons, 1920), 12. 

For all practical purposes, modem explosive nonion-clature totally disregards the concept of strength classili-... 

How does nitroglycerin differ from most modem explosives Use the web to determine if any explosives based on nitroglycerin are used today. 

Taylor, W. (1959) Modem Explosives. London Royal Institute of Chemistry, London. 

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