45G 
SIR ANDREW NOBLE: RESEARCHES ON EXPLOSIVES 
Experiment 1380. 
Experiment 1520. 
Experiment 1521. 
Atmosphere of air. 
Vessel exhausted. 
Atmosphere of 
nitrogen. 
Constituents other 
than nitrogen. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
CCL. 
27-15 
26-35 
25 • 90 
26-45 
CO. 
34-35 
35-05 
34-90 
35-70 
H. 
17-50 
19-50 
18-45 
18-85 
CH 4 . 
0-30 
0-60 
0-50 
0-50 
79-30 
81-50 
79-75 
81-50 
N. 
20-70 
18-50 
20-25 
— - 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
_ 
H-0. 
2 • 65 grammes 
2-51 grammes 
2-52 grammes 
The percentage of nitrogen is, of course, higher in Experiment 1521 than in 1520. 
After correcting in the former the other constituents for this difference, it will be 
noted from the last column that the experiment in nitrogen yielded slightly more 
carbon monoxide and slightly less hydrogen than did the charge fired in the exhausted 
vessel. The C0 2 and CH, are practically identical in the two experiments. 
It may be interesting to compare the foregoing results with the analysis of the 
gases taken from the chamber of a 9'2-inch gun fired with a charge of 103 lbs. 
(46*71 kilos), giving a muzzle velocity of 2,GOO f/s. (792'5 m/s.), and a pressure of 
IG'1 tons per scp inch (2453 atmospheres). 
As soon as possible after firing the muzzle of the gun was closed and the breech 
opened. An exhausted gas tube held in a special holder was introduced to the far 
end of the chamber, and one of its stop-cocks momentarily opened. 
The analysis gave the following composition of the gases after deducting air : — 
Round 1. 
Round 2. 
Round 3. * 
Round 4. 
CCL. 
25-7 
25-4 
26-0 
26-5 
CO. 
35‘4 
36-25 
38-5 
34-75 
H. 
19-4 
18-65 
20-0 
16-95 
ch 4 . 
0-7 
0-3 
0-5 
0-3 
N. 
18-8 
19-4 
15-0 
21-5 
* Results probably not very accurate owing to great dilution with air. 
The samples for the first two rounds were taken so soon as the breech was opened, 
the last two after a dummy shot was rammed home. The composition of the gas 
after deducting the air is similar to that obtained by firing cordite at low densities in 
a closed vessel. It follows that atmospheric combustion had not taken place to any 
extent. 
