SIR ANDREW NOBLE: RESEARCHES ON EXPLOSIVES. 
455 
of 37'92 tons per sq. inch (5780 atmospheres) was fired, and analysis gave the 
percentage volumes of the permanent gases as follows :— 
Experiment 1586. 
Experiment 1593. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
co 2 . 
33-10 
33-00 
CO. 
28-70 
28-75 
H. 
12-40 
13-10 
CH 4 . 
10-85 
10-55 
N. 
14-95 
14-60 
The same experiment was repeated in Experiment 1593, the density being also 0'4, 
and the pressure 38-30 tons per sq. inch (5838 atmospheres), the results being for the 
sake of comparison placed alongside those of Experiment 1586. 
These results I consider quite satisfactory, but the comparison with Explosive IV. 
was even closer. 
In Experiment 1598 a charge of Explosive IV. was fired under a density of 0'4 and 
a pressure of 43 "2 tons per sq. inch (6585 atmospheres), the percentage volumes of 
the permanent gases being :— 
1 
1 
Experiment 1598. 
Experiment 1599. 
CO,. 
per cent. 
34-40 
per cent. 
34 • 40 
CO. 
27-65 
27 ■ 75 
H. 
13-10 
13-15 
C1L. 
8-98 
8 • 95 
N. 
15-87 
■ 
15 • 75 
In Experiment 1599 the same explosive was fired at the same density, the pressure 
being 4076 tons per sq. inch (6213 atmospheres), and the percentage volumes are 
placed alongside those of the previous experiment. The two analyses are practically 
identical.* 
When explosives are fired in a gun, the chamber in which the charge is placed is, 
of course, full of air, and in my experiments the charges were similarly treated. 
With the view, however, of testing the difference due to the presence of air, I 
fired three charges of cordite all at a density of 0 - 05 (this density of course including 
the largest percentage of air), the three experiments being, first, with air ; second, 
air exhausted; third, with an atmosphere of nitrogen. 
The analysis gave the following results :— 
* These results have been further confirmed by several other duplicate experimen 
