366 
ME. F. A. ABEL’S CONTEIBTJTIONS TO 
The identity in behaviour of the “ nitrated ” and “ chlorated ” preparations of gun- 
cotton, and of the ordinary material, when subjected to the detonative effect of mercuric 
fulminate, rendered it interesting to compare the behaviour of these materials when in 
contact with exploding nitroglycerine. Equal quantities of the several preparations 
(4 oz.) were employed in all these experiments. The disks (3 inches in diameter) were 
placed upon wrought-iron plates, all of equal dimensions and resting upon a firm anvil 
hollow in the centre. The nitroglycerine was contained in glass beakers which were 
placed upon the disks, and the detonating fuse was immersed in the centre of the nitro- 
glycerine. The development of detonation was recorded by the indentation and cracking 
of the plate. When the explosion of the nitroglycerine simply dispersed the disk upon 
which it was placed, or only exploded the latter (as was several times the case in the 
course of these trials), no destructive action was recorded upon the plates which served 
as supports. The interposition of the disk of gun-cotton between the nitroglycerine 
charge and the plate served to protect the latter from injury, the force of the ex- 
ploding nitroglycerine being to a great extent expended in pulverizing and dispersing 
the disk. Only in one instance, among several experiments, did 2 ounces of nitro- 
glycerine develop the detonation of compressed gun-cotton ; that quantity of the liquid 
detonated both “nitrated ” and “ chlorated ” gun-cotton with certainty. One ounce of 
replaced by the salt), the increased work performed by the 62 parts of gun-cotton, with the aid of the oxidizing 
agent, will be found not quite equal to that obtained from the one hundred parts of pure gun-cotton ; in other 
words, the loss of force due to the replacement of about one third of the gun-cotton by the salt used is not fully 
compensated for by the extra work obtained from the remaining two thirds of gun-cotton resulting from its 
complete oxidation. If, however, about three fourths of the theoretical amount of the salt be employed 
(referring specially to the potassium or sodium nitrate), the resulting products will perform fully the amount 
of work obtained from a corresponding weight of the undiluted gun-cotton ; and as nearly one third of gun-cotton 
has been replaced in them by material of about one sixth its cost, a considerable advantage is gained in point 
of economy. 
When equal volumes of highly compressed gun-cotton and of the “ nitrate ” or “ chlorate ” mixture, similarly 
compressed, are compared, the explosive force of the latter is much the most considerable. “ Chlorated ” gun- 
cotton is decidedly more violent in its action than the “ nitrated ” preparations ; but it is more costly, on account 
of the comparatively high price of the salt, and because a larger proportion of the chlorate is required to furnish 
the requisite proportion of oxygen. It is, moreover, very susceptible of ignition by friction or percussion, and is 
therefore comparatively dangerous. For these reasons it does not compare favourably with the “nitrated” 
preparations. Of these, the mixtures with potassium nitrate are somewhat the most readily prepared ; they, 
moreover, have but little if any more tendency to absorb moisture than pure compressed gun-cotton. The con- 
siderable advantage which the “ nitrated ” gun-cotton possesses in point both of cost and of power (especially 
when compared with equal volumes of compressed gun-cotton), added to the fact that it is as readily susceptible 
of ignition by detonation and possesses other valuable properties above pointed out, render it highly probable 
that this preparation of gun-cotton will be largely substituted for the ordinary compressed material in many of 
its applications. The circumstance that carbonic oxide, produced in considerable amount upon the explosion of 
trinitrocellulose, is present in the products of explosion of nitrated material in scarcely higher proportion than 
it exists in those of gunpowder, appears likely to remove the objection against the employment of gun-cotton in 
military mines, which arose from the large quantity of carbonic oxide developed when heavy charges of gun- 
eotton were exploded! 
