Phlegmatizing substances

The inclusion of wax-type phlegmatizing substances in the mixture facilitates the pressing of the explosive as it decreases the friction between the crystals. Thus a mixture with a higher density can be obtained by applying a lower pressure. 

Earlier observations that nitrocellulose burns very quickly in a confined space-much more quickly than blackpowder— were confirmed. Since it is difficult to reduce the burning rate by physical methods only, e.g. by compressing the nitrocellulose to increase its density, attempts were made to slow down the rate of burning by the addition of phlegmatizing substances, such as glues, waxes, fats etc. 

More active, more bustling substances are transformed into more passive, more phlegmatic substances. They migrate from busier places (with a lot of activity ) to quieter places (with weak activity ). In short, matter aspires to a state of maximum laziness. ... 

Non-explosive substances which, when molten, act as solvents for explosives, are another type of desensitizing agents. For instance, pentaerythritol tetra-acetate was suggested by Bombrini-Parodi Delfino [43] as a phlegmatizer of PETN. 

Desensitization or phlegmatizotion) of an explosive, means rendering it insensitive or less sensitive to the following actions heat, shock, impact, percussion, rifle bullet or friction Desensitizer (or pblegmatizer) is a substance which makes insensitive or reduces the sensitivity of an explosive. The term phlegmatizer is also used for a material added to a cannon propint to reduce its erosive effect in gun barrels Desensitized explosives are those which are made insensitive to the above listed actions. 

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... 

Mixtures of aromatic nitro compounds with chlorate are dangerously sensitive unless they are phlegmatized with castor oil or a similar material, but there are other substances, such as... 

In the realm of modern, nitric-ester-free - LOVA Gun Propellants, the widely used inert binders consume energy and to some extend have an undesirably high overall phlegmatizing effect on the explosive material. The high filler content of an explosive substance has a detrimental effect on the mechanical strength of this type of propellant. 

Organic peroxides may be explosive. They are usually not manufactured for blasting purposes, but rather as catalysts for polymerization reactions. They are utilized in a safely phlegmatized condition. They will not be discussed in this book, except for two substances displaying properties of primary explosives -< Tricycloacetone Peroxide and -> Hexamethylenetriperoxide Diamine. 

The chemical potential is a measure of the strength of this tendency. We write or //(B) to signify the potential of substance B. The greater the p, the more active or bustling the substance. The smaller the p, the more passive or phlegmatic it is. 

Peroxide combinations can also be used to control certain curing properties, in particular the reaction rate. Peroxides [31] are available in liquid, paste, or solid form. The relatively low level of stability of peroxides makes it necessary to add so-called phlegmatizers, i.e., substances that neutralize. Curing agents also include... 

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