This book is included in the Self Reliance Firearms & Weaponry section.
Preface to the First Edition THE writer of a book on explosives is immediately faced with a difficult task of selection. He must decide what relative importances to place on military compared with commercial explosives, and on theoretical against practical aspects of the technology. The quantity of military explosives made in the Second World War exceeded the total ever made for peaceful use by mankind. On this count it could be argued that military explosives should occupy a major portion of this book. On the other hand, wars are fortunately relatively shorter in duration than peace, so that at any particular time a reader is likely to be interested more in commercial explosives than in military. More important, however, is to consider the contributions—good and bad—which explosives have made to the history of mankind. Any real assessment of this must show that the benefits which explosives have produced far outweigh their misuse in military pursuits. The explosives technologist, who has usually seen and perhaps even experienced the effects of explosives, is the last to want war or to want his products to be used for warlike purposes. It is no accident that Nobel, who founded the modern explosives industry, also founded the Peace Prize associated with his name. In this book the writer has followed his instincts and given pride of place to commercial, beneficial applications of explosives. The writer has also dealt in greater detail than many authors would on the more fundamental aspects of his subject. He believes that the reader will be more interested in understanding the bases of the design and performance of explosives than in learning details of individual compounds or devices. If readers consider that the balance is wrong, the writer can only plead that there are no comparable books on the subject with which comparison could be made. In deference to the wishes of the publishers, references in the text have been kept to a minimum and where possible to books thought to be freely available. The writer has, however, included a short bibliography to Chapter 2, because he is not aware of any general reference of recent date which covers the whole ground adequately. This book is concerned with the British explosives industry. Practice in other countries has been discussed only when the comparison is thought to be of value. That is the intention of this series of books and is not in any way intended to decry products which satisfy well requirements in other, often widely different conditions. Acknowledgements are gratefully made to the following for permission to reproduce items from other books: Oliver & Boyd—Fig. 4.1, Newnes—Fig. 7.2; I.C.I. Ltd.—Figs. 14.8 and 14.9; Elsevier—Fig. 19.5; Interscience Publications— Table 17.1; Temple Press—Table 19.3. Thanks are also due to the writer's many colleagues in the Nobel Division of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. for helping, knowingly and unknowingly, in the preparation of this book. S.F. Preface to the Second Edition IN PREPARING the second edition of this book the opportunity has been taken to add sections on slurry explosives and a short account of "Nonel" fuse. Parts which were badly out of date have been modernised, and the opportunity taken to correct some errors and ambiguities. Thanks are again due to my former colleagues in NEC. S.F. Please Read This Do not experiment with explosives or pyrotechnics. In this volume a considerable amount of information is given on methods of making explosives and pyrotechnics. The book, however, does not attempt to say how these manufactures can be carried out with safety. The writer and publisher would be most distressed if this text led to a single accident by causing any reader to do experiments on his own. In this country all preparation of explosives, fireworks, rockets and similar devices is illegal unless carried out in a duly authorized establishment. Throughout the world explosives manufacturers have amassed many years of experience and have spent many millions of pounds to ensure as far as possible the safety of those working for them with explosives. Even so, accidents still occur with distressing injury and loss of life. Where these companies cannot succeed the amateur would be foolish to try. Do not experiment with explosives—the odds are too much against you. Contents Preface to the First Edition Preface to the Second Edition Please Read This Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Part I - High Explosives Chapter 2 General Principles Chapter 3 Military High Explosives Chapter 4 Manufacture of Commercial Explosives Chapter 5 Design of Commercial Explosives Chapter 6 Assessment of Explosives Chapter 7 Permitted Explosives Part II Blasting Accessories Introduction 93 Chapter 8 Initiating Explosives Chapter 9 Plain Detonators Chapter 10 Electric Detonators Chapter 11 Delay Detonators Chapter 12 Detonating Fuse Chapter 13 Safety Fuse Part III Application of High Explosives Chapter 14 Commercial Applications Chapter 15 Military Applications Part IV Deflagrating and Propellent Explosives Introduction Chapter 16 Blackpowder Chapter 17 Manufacture of Propellants Chapter 18 Properties of Propellants Chapter 19 Design and Application of Propellants Glossary of Common Terms and Abbreviations Index End of Preview RETURN to Main Titles Index or Self Reliance Firearms & Weaponry
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