This book is included in the Self Reliance Firearms & Weaponry section.
Introduction Although descriptions of the methods of analysis of explosives are to be found in many books on explosives, and in works on engineering chemistry or chemical analysis, most of these descriptions are incomplete and lacking in details. The methods of analysis employed in the laboratories of most explosives factories are frequently treated as trade secrets, and very little information is published from such laboratories. This bulletin outlines the methods of analysis that are used by the Bureau of Mines in the examination of certain classes of explosives. The present form of most of these methods has been worked out in the bureau's explosives laboratory. The methods employed by Prof. C. E. Munroe were taken as a basis, and were elaborated to meet the demands incident to the treatment of complicated mixtures and to the development of the explosives art. A subsequent bulletin will discuss the methods of analysis of "permissible" explosives, many of the latter being of decidedly complicated character and requiring special treatment. This bulletin presents the methods of analysis of "ordinary" dynamite, and the ammonia, gelatin, low-freezing, and granular dynamites, and the common grades of black gunpowder and black blasting powder. The bulletin is published by the bureau for the information of all persons interested in explosives and their safe and efficient use in mining work. As the term "ordinary" dynamite, though much used, has no conventional meaning, and may be used to cover a wide variety of compositions of matter, it may be noted that the standard dynamite used at the Pittsburgh testing station is a good example of the "ordinary" dynamite known in this country. This testing station dynamite has the following composition: Composition of Pittsburgh testing station dynamite. Per cent. Nitroglycerin 40 Sodium nitrate 44 Wood pulp 15 Calcium carbonate 1 As most permissible explosives contain only the constituents found generally in the various types of ordinary dynamite, the chemist will usually find it possible to analyze such explosives either wholly or partly by following the general methods of analysis here given for the type of explosive that seems most closely related to the one under examination. The methods of extraction with ether, with water, etc., here outlined are general methods which are applied with equal success to all classes of explosives, and therefore by the use of these general methods, following a thorough qualitative examination, little difficulty should be met except with those classes of permissible explosives that contain large amounts of salts holding water of crystallization, such as alum and magnesium sulphate, or those containing an unusual number of uncommon constituents. Even with such explosives, however, if the information desired is principally in regard to the percentages of explosive ingredients (nitroglycerin, ammonium nitrate, etc.), the methods outlined in this bulletin may be satisfactorily followed. Table of Contents Introduction Dynamite Physical examination Determination of gravimetric density Test for liability of exudation Forty-degree test for exudation Pressure test for exudation Centrifugal test for exudation Test for stability Abel test Caramel standard tint paper Preparation of paper for Abel tes Sampling Chemical examination Qualitative examination Determination of moisture In ordinary desiccators In vacuum desiccators In a dry-air current Summary Extraction with ether Reflux-condenser method Suction method Comparative extractions with anhydrous and U. S. P. (96 per cent) ether Effect of moisture in dynamite on extraction with ether Determination of nitroglycerin The nitrometer Procedure Evaporation in the bell-jar evaporator Determinations of sulphur, resins, etc Extraction with water Determination of alkaline nitrates Determination of alkaline nitrates by means of the nitrometer Extraction with acid Determination of calcium Determination of magnesium Determination of zinc Determination of starch Examination of insoluble residue Determination of wood pulp, etc. Determination of ash Variations due to method of analysis Discussion of analyses Moisture Nitroglycerin Potassium nitrate Calcium carbonate Wood pulp Gelatin dynamite Sampling Sulphur Nitrocellulose Ammonia dynamite Low-freezing dynamite Determination of nitrosubstitution compounds Granulated nitroglycerin powder Black powder Physical examination Granulation or average size of grains Gravimetric density Absolute density Sampling Chemical examination Determination of moisture Extraction with water; determination of nitrates Extraction with carbon disulphide; determination of sulphur. Insoluble residue, charcoal Determination of ash Bureau of Mines method of analysis Publications on mine accidents and tests of explosives End of Preview
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