Other Powders Explosives file #6 by Flashpoint (c) 1983; 1984 The Agency; Prism Industries. Call The Agency (818) 794 - 8916 10 meg soon?!? These files may not be changed if they are to be posted on other systems. Please do not delete any of the credits. These files may be posted on other systems with permission from THE AGENCY. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- They couldn't let black powder get all lonesome by being the only worthwile powder useful in explosives, so somebody invented a few more. Some of these are better than black powder, some worse, some more expensive, some more convenient. But they are all powders. BLASTING POWDER Since normal black powder burns rather quickly when mixed well, a slower and cheaper powder is needed for blasting. A powder of this type can be obtained by reducing the amount of Potassium Nitrate. The French government has manufactured and sold the following kinds of blasting powder. SALTPETER CHARCOAL SULFUR ::::::::: :::::::: :::::: 72 15 13 40 30 30 62 18 20 In the United States, most blasting powder is made from Sodium nitrate. Some samples taken show the following ratios. SODIUM NITRATE CHARCOAL SULFUR :::::::::::::: :::::::: :::::: 68 10 22 73 11 16 Pellet powders, made from Sodium Nitrate, are becoming popular. They are cylindrical pellets, 2 inches long, wrapped in paraffined paper cartridges, and are from 1 and 1/4 to 2 inches in diameter. The pellets resemble cartridges of dynamite. From 2 to 4 pellets whice are perforated in the direction of their axis are wrapped in the cartridges and a 3/8 hole is bored for insertion of fuse for firing. The pellets are also sold in most hardware stores for use in welding torches under names like Solid OX pellets and generally cost about $ 8.00 for a can of 7 or 8 sticks. You can buy these pellets and grind them up for a good source of Sodium Nitrate powder. It makes a hell of a black powder. II. AMMONPULVER Propellant powder made from Ammonium nitrate is about as powerful as smokeless powder and has long had a limited use for military uses, especially in Germany and Austria. In 1855, a powder was patented called Amidpulver. Later the formula was improved, giving the powder a flashless discharge whan fired in a gun and only a moderate amount of smoke. Ammonpulver which contains no Potassium nitrate explodes with no flash and little smoke. AMMONIUM POTASSIUM NITRATE NITRATE CHARCOAL :::::::::: ::::::::::: :::::::::: Amidpulver 38 44 16 improved Amidpulver 37 14 49 other formula 85 - 15 Ammonpulver has the advantages of being cheap, powerful, flashless, and almost smokeless. It is insensitive to shock and friction, and is more difficult to ignite than black powder. In use it requires a strong igniter charge. III POUDER BRUGERE Pouder Brugere is made by grinding together the following composition : Ammonium nitrate 54 parts Potassium nitrate 46 parts The powder is pressed and granulated as in the making of black powder. It is more powerful than black powder and gives less smoke. FRENCH AMMONAL French Ammonal is an easily improvised low explosive mixture of 86% Ammonium nitrate, 6% Stearic acid, and 8% Aluminum powder. It is generly less effective than and equal weight of TNT. Initiation by a Engineer's special blasting cap is recommended. !>Flash Point