I II
Ammonium nitrate 46 32
Trinitro-toluene 30 50
Aluminium 22 16
Charcoal 2 2
and modifications of this have been used largely in the British
service. It is not suitable for use in underground workings as it
forms on explosion the poisonous gas carbon monoxide, unless the
proportion of ammonium nitrate be large. It has been used for
charging grenades, and by the Austrians for trench howitzer bombs.
When the explosive is detonated, the aluminium is converted into the
oxide, evolving no gas, but a considerable amount of heat, which
increases the power of the explosive. The aluminium powder also
renders the explosive easier to detonate.
Three explosives of this type passed the Woolwich Test, and were on
the old Permitted List for coal mines, namely, Ammonal B, Ripping
Ammonal and Saint Helen’s Powder (q. v.).
Ripping
Ammonal B. Ammonal.
Ammonium nitrate 94·5 86
Aluminium 3 8
Charcoal 2·5 2·5
Potassium bichromate -- 3·5
No explosives containing aluminium are on the present Permitted List.
=AMMONCAHUECIT=} =CAHUECIT=.
} See
=AMMONCARBONIT=} =CARBONIT=.
=AMMONIAKKRUT= was the first ammonium nitrate explosive. It
was invented by J. Ohlsson and J. H. Norrbin, two Swedes, and was
protected by English Patent 2766 of 1869. It consisted of ammonium
nitrate together with 5 or 10 per cent. of charcoal, coal dust, etc.,
to which mixture was added 10 to 30 per cent. of nitroglycerine to
make it less difficult to detonate.
=AMMONITE= is a coal-mine explosive of the Favier type, made by
the Miners’ Safety Explosives Co. The original composition, which
passed the Woolwich Test was--
Ammonium nitrate 88
Dinitro-naphthalene 12
To pass the more severe Rotherham Test a number of compositions have
been made and approved, but some of them have been repealed. Those
now on the Permitted List are--
Ammonite Ammonite. Ammonite
No. 1. No. 5.
_Date of Permit_ 29-8-14 5-11-17 2-8-18
Ammonium nitrate 74·5 73·5 74·5
Dinitro-naphthalene -- 5·5 --
Trinitro-naphthalene -- -- 5
Trinitro-toluene 5 -- --
Sodium chloride 20·5 21 20·5
Limit charge 24 18 26 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·42 2·44 2·41”
Ammonite No. 1 is used on a considerable scale in coal mines. A
non-permitted explosive called Ripping Ammonite is also made.
*=AMMONPULVER= is a propellant which was used by the Austrians
from 1890 to 1896 in guns of various calibres--
Ammonium nitrate 80-90
Charcoal 10-20
It was superseded by a powder of the ballistite type, but has been
reintroduced recently by the Germans to replace a part of the charge
of nitrocellulose powder in their field gun. The advantages claimed
for it are small erosion of the gun, absence of muzzle flame,
chemical stability, and cheapness. On the other hand, it gives high
pressures, and if used by itself requires a gun with a specially
large chamber; but the most serious objection to it is that on
keeping, physical changes take place in the pellets, leading to the
production of very high pressures. It is said that moisture promotes
these changes. See also Amide Powder.
=AMVIS.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List--
Ammonium nitrate 90
Wood meal 5
Dinitro-benzene }
Chlorinated naphthalene } 5
=Neu ANAGON.=--A German blasting explosive containing not more
than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, zinc-aluminium alloy and
charcoal.
=ANCHORITE.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Favier type, formerly
on the Permitted List. It was made by Kynoch-Arklow, Ltd.
_Date of Permit_ 13-5-14
Ammonium nitrate 34·3
Sodium nitrate 33·3
Ammonium chloride 20·2
Trinitro-toluene 12·2
Limit charge 14 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·73”
=ANILIT.=--A German explosive containing not less than 70 per
cent. of ammonium nitrate, not more than 5 per cent. of sugar, and
copper sulphate-aniline or copper oxalate-aniline.
=ANILITE.=--A French liquid explosive of the Sprengel class used
for aerial bombs.
=ANTIGEL DE SÛRETÉ.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive--
Nitroglycerine 25
Sodium nitrate 20
Dinitro-toluene 15
Ammonium sulphate 5
Cellulose }
Wood meal } 35
The Charge limite is 900 grammes, which is equivalent to 524 grammes
of dynamite No. 1. The composition is the same as that of Ingélite.
It is a low-freezing nitroglycerine explosive.
=APHOSITE.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List--
Ammonium nitrate 60
Potassium nitrate 29·5
Charcoal 4
Wood meal 4
Sulphur 2·5
*=APYRITE.=--A nitrocellulose smokeless powder formerly made in
Sweden by the Société Grakrut.
=ARKITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd. The
original composition which passed the Woolwich Test was--
Nitroglycerine 52·5
Nitrocotton 3·5
Potassium nitrate 22
Wood meal 7
Ammonium oxalate 15
The proportions were modified, and the following passed the
Rotherham Test, and was on the Permitted List--