US1472691A - Nitrostarch explosive - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

umrsl WALTER O. SNEIQLING, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TROJAN POWDER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

NITROSTARCH EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknownthat I, WALTER O. SNELLING, a citizen of the United States, residing in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania,

have invented a Nitrostarch Explosive, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to nitrostarch explosives, and more particularly to the preparation of nitrostarch explosives of exceptional strength and brisance.

It has long been known that explosives possessing desirable properties could be made by mixing together nitrostarch and an inorganic nitrate of high oxygen value 1 such as the nitrates of sodium, potassium, and ammonium, and explosives consisting of mechanical mixtures of nitrates of ammonium and sodium with nitrostarch.

l 29%, I find that the strength of an explosive containing lead nitrate is materially greater than the strength of an explosive containing an equivalent weight of sodium nitrate. Comparative tests of a considerable number of explosives containing corresponding quantities of sodium nitrate and lead nitrate have invariably shown thatthe explosives containing lead nitrate possess greater greater strength than explosives containing 0 sodium nitrate, instead of possessing less strength as would be expected from the smaller amount of available oxygen contained in lead nitrate-as compared with the amount of oxygen available in sodium nitrate. 7

As an example of an explosive made in accordance with my present invention, I may-take thirty parts of nitrostarch, sixtyusual way.

Application filed October 14, 1922. Serial No. 594,592.

nine and five-tenths parts of lead nitrate, and one-half of one part of oil. The three constituents are thoroughly mixed together, and may then be packed in cartridges in the The explosive so prepared possesses exceptional strength and forms a very desirable explosive for commercial blasting where maximum shattering effect is desired. 7

By increasing the amount of oil slightly, a reduction in sensitiveness of the explosive is obtained without any corresponding reduction in its strength when detonated by a suitable priming charge. For explosives for filling shells or for other urposes where a relatively insensitive exp osive of great strength is required, I prefer to employ a mixture containing 40% of nitrostarch, 57% of lead nitrate, and 3% of oil.

It will be evident that I may employ any of the other ingredients commonly employed inexplosives, in connection with the compositions embodying my present invention. I may, forexample, add an anti-acid such as sodium bicarbonate or zinc oxide for the purpose of increasing the stability of my combustible ingredients such as wood pulp,

or flour, or I may add a material such as sulfur that can combine with the lead set free by the explosion of my compound, and

in general I may modify my explosive mixtures in accordance with any of the well known methods of the art.

I claim:

1. An explosive comprising nitrostarch and lead nitrate.

2. A nitrostarch explosive containing as a constituent lead nitrate.

3. An explosive comprising nitrostarch, lead nitrate, and an oil.

WALTER O. SNELLING.