Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP The History of Explosives...

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Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP Black Powder n Saltpeter or “Nitre” n Chinese as early as the 10th Century n Roger Bacon published formula in 1242 n Berthold Schwartz invented Gun ~ 1300

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP Black Powder n First Powder Mill in Massachusetts in 1675 n Americans first blasted with powder around 1773 n American Revolution hastened manufacture of black powder n New frontiers required blasting to build roads and canals for transporting goods and people (early 1800s)

What is This? Baptist Church? Dance Hall? Powder Magazine Colonial Williamsburg, VA.

How Important was Black Powder? Guard HouseLocation 10’ Wall Storage

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP n Discovered by Ascanio Sobrero in 1846 n Nobel built factory in 1861 n Nobel Patented Dynamite in 1867 n Problems included fumes, freezing, & headaches n 750 million pounds manufactured in 1955 Nitroglycerin and Dynamite Dynamite - from Dynamis, meaning power

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP Ammonium Nitrate n Synthesized in 1659 by J. R. Glauber n Used for fertilizer and explosives products n Texas City explosion n ANFO n Pros: Easier to load, cheaper, and safer than dynamite n Cons: desensitized by water n Over 2.2 Billion pounds manufactured in 1974

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP Water Gels n Developed in 1940s to solve the water problem n Non- Nitroglycerin n Use increased with development of equipment for drilling large diameter holes Pros: economics, loading density, low sensitivity, water resistance, no nitro Cons: needs sensitizer, not for small holes

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP Binary/Two Component Explosives n Usually consist of Ammonium Nitrate (sensitizer) and Nitromethane (fuel) n Advantages include: –not a Class A explosive until mixed –no danger of fire while in storage –available in correct type and size –can deactivate after mixing –will detonate at minus 14 0 F n Disadvantages include: –cost –time required to mix

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP Initiation Devices n Safety Fuse n Fuse Caps n Electric Blasting Caps n Delay Caps n Vented Caps n Composition Caps n Detonating Cord n Nonelectric Delay Caps n Shock Tube

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