Part 7 (1/2)
~Manufacture~--The cotton used is cotton-waste[A] It is thought by so fibre varieties
The strength of the acids used is, however, of e coives the best results is as follows:--Nitric acid, 23 per cent; sulphuric acid, 66 per cent; and water, 11 per cent; and has a specific gravity of 1712 (about) It can be ravity 184 with nitric acid of specific gravity 1368 in the proportions of 66 per cent and 34 per cent respectively (The production of the penta-nitro-cellulose is aimed at if the collodion-cotton is for use as an explosive) If the acids are much weaker than this, or potassium nitrate and sulphuric acid is used, the lower nitrates will be for entirely soluble in ether-alcohol or nitro-glycerine, will have a low nitrogen content, whereas a en as 12 or 126 is to be aimed at
[Footnote A: Raw cotton is often used]
The cotton should not be allowed to re tanks for more than five minutes, and the acid mixture should be kept at a temperature of 28 C or thereabouts; and the cotton should be removed after a few un-cotton, but at once transferred to the pots and allowed to steep for forty-eight hours (Some prefer twenty-four hours, but there isnon-nitrated cellulose) When the nitration is complete, the collodion-cotton is removed from the pots, and treated in exactly the saun-cotton The produce should be entirely soluble in ether-alcohol and nitro-glycerine, and contain as near 127 per cent of nitrogen as possible The theoretical nitrogen is for the penta-nitro-cellulose 1275 per cent This will, however, seldo are some of the results I have obtained froen
(1) (2) (3) German make 1164 1148 1149 per cent
Stowmarket 1257 1260 1122 ”
Walsrode 1161 1207 1199 ”
Faversha was the analysis of a sample (No 1) of Gerelatine:--
_ Soluble cotton (collodion) 99118 per cent| Nitrogen = 1164 per cent
Gun-cotton 0642 ” _| Non-nitrated cotton 0240 ”
Total ash 025 ”
It should contain as little non-nitrated or unconverted cotton and as little gun-cotton as possible, as they are both insoluble in nitro- glycerol The quality and composition of any sample of collodion-cotton can be quickly inferred by deteren by means of the nitroen content coupled with a high solubility is the end to be aien with a low solubility shows the presence of gun-cotton, and a low nitrogen, together with a low solubility, the presence of unnitrated cotton Where coen less ie recommends nitration with a mixture of equal parts of sulphuric and nitric acids containing from 19 to 20 per cent of water
[Footnote A: See analysis of Explosives]
Mr TR France claims to have invented some improvements in the manufacture of soluble nitro-cellulose His object has been to produce an article as uniform as possible His explanation of the imperfect action of the acids is that, however uniforth and proportions, and however carefully the operations of nitrating, &c, may be conducted, there are variable elements found in different salazed surface It is tubular and cellular in structure, and contains a natural seu to the nature of the soil upon which the cotton is grown The tubes of the fibre seeth When, therefore, the cotton is subjected to the action of the mixed acids, the line of least resistance seems to be taken by the the fibre of the cotton, into which they are taken by capillary attraction, and are subject to change as they progress, and to the increased resistance froress, and therefore to modified action, the result of which is slower and slower action, or chee He also thinks it is possible that the power of capillary attraction is balanced in the tubes by air contained therein, after a little, sufficiently so to prevent the acids froet over this, Mr France uses his cotton in a fine state, almost dust, in fact, and then nitrates in the usualremoved by pressure He says he does not find it necessary to wash this fine cotton dust in an alkaline solution previous to nitration His mixed acids consist of 8 parts HNO_{3} = 42 B, and 12 parts H_{2}SO_{4} = 66 B, and he stirs in the dipping tank for fifteen50 F to 100 F, the te 75 F
~”Nitrated” Gun-Cotton~--The nitrates that are or have been en are potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and bariuun-cotton by potassium nitrate corresponds to the equation:--
10[C_{24}H_{18}(NO_{3}H)_{11}O_{9}] + 82KNO_{3} = 199CO_{2} + 41K_{2}CO_{3} + 145H_{2}O + 96N_{2},
or 828 grun-cotton, or 42 per cent
nitrate and 58 per cent gun-cotton The explosive made at Faversham by the Cotton Powder Company, and known as tonite No 1, consists of very nearly half gun-cotton and half bariuht of total coun-cotton to 484 of bariue composition of tonite I have found by analysis to be 51 per cent gun-cotton to 49 per cent barium nitrate The heat liberated is practically the saht of KNO_{3}; but the bariur a nitrate with gun-cotton is that it supplies oxygen, and by converting all the carbon into carbonic acid, prevents the foras carbonic oxide (CO) The nitrates of potassium and barium are also used ad smokeless powders
~The Manufacture of Tonite~--The explosive tonite was patented by Messrs Trench, Faure, and Mackie, and isat the works of the Cotton Powder Company, and at San Francisob the Tonite Powder Coun-cotton incorporated with finely ground nitrate of barium which has been carefully recrystallised It isupon carbonate of barium[A] with nitric acid The wet and perfectly purified, finely pulped gun-cotton is intiht of nitrate, and thecontinued until the whole has become an intimately es, for the detonator The whole is then covered with paraffined paper
[Footnote A: Witherite, BaCO_{3} + 2HNO_{3} = Ba(NO_{3})_{2} + CO_{2} + H_{2}O]
The tonite No 2 consisted of gun-cotton, nitrates of potash and soda, charcoal and sulphur Tonite No 3[A] is composed as follows:--Gun-cotton, 19 per cent; di-nitro-benzol, 13 per cent; and barium nitrate, 68 per cent or si slower in its explosive action, is better adapted for blasting soft rock
[Footnote A: Tonite No 1 was patented by Messrs Trench, Faure, and Mackie, and tonite Nos 2 and 3 by Trench alone]
Tonite is extensively used in torpedoes and for sube quantities were used in the construction of the Manchester shi+p Canal Alish railill take tonite on the saunpowder; it is a very dense material; if wetted it can easily be dried in the sun; it very readily explodes by the use of a proper detonator; while it burns very slowly and without the least danger; the cartridges being waterproofed, it can be employed in wet bore holes, and it can be taen to oxidise the carbon, no carbonic oxide (CO) gas is formed, ie, its detonation is perfect It is a very safe explosive to use, being little susceptible to either blows or friction
Not long ago, a committee, composed of Prof P Bedson, Drs Drummond and Hume, Mr T Bell, one of HM Inspectors of Coal Mines, and others, in considering the problem whether the fumes produced by the combustion of tonite were injurious to health, carried out a series of experiments in coal mines for this purpose The air at the ”intake” was analysed, also the air of the ”return,” and the se was surrounded by the fla During the first experiment nineteen shots were fired (= 629 lbs tonite) The ”return” air showed only a trace of carbonic oxide gas (CO) At the second experiment thirteen shots were fired (= 440 lbs tonite), and analysis of the air of the ”return”