Patented May 4, 1954

2,677,605
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,677,605
GELATN BLASTING EXPLOSIVE
R COMPOSITION
James Tayior, Ardrossan, Arthur J. Lowe, West
Kilibride, and Edward G. Cooke, Ardrossan,
Scotland, assignors to imperial Chemical In
dustries limited, a corporation of Great Britain
No Drawing. Application June 7, i950,
Serial No. 66,766
Clairns priority, application Great Britain
July 29, 1949
11. Claims. (C. 52-7)
..
2
The present invention relates to new and in into the nitrocellulose-liquid explosive nitric ester
proved gelatine blasting explosives. It is well paste. In these explosives the proportion of liquid
known that the tendency is for the Velocity of det nitric ester-nitrocellulose jelly. Will usually be at
onation and sensitivity characteristics of car least 50% in order to maintain the power of the
tridges of gelatine explosive to diminish as the 5 eXplosive. Annonium nitrate geignite-like ex
pressure under which they are used is increased. plosives may be prepaired in an analogous manner
The main object of the invention is to provide to that employed in the production of the sodium
gelatine blasting explosives of improved service nitrate gelignite-like explosives. The ammonium
ability under conditions of hydrostatic pressure initiate being an explosive salt as well as an oxidis
substantially exceeding 10 atmospheres such as () ing agent, the amount of the liquid explosive nitric
may be encountered in Submarine blasting or in ester nitrocellulose jelly may in general be nearer
seisinic blasting operations. to the lower limit of 35% hereinbefore indicated.
A geiatine blasting explosive according to the As will be understood, however, intermediate
present invention consists of a liquid explosive types of explosives between these three classes,
nitric ester-nitrocellulose gelatine composition and other types falling within the definition of
containing at least 35% by weight of a mixture of the invention but not corresponding closely to the
nitrocellulose and a liquid nitric ester liquid Com chairacter of blasting gelatine, sodium nitrate or
position based on the Weight of Said initric ester aminonium nitrate gelignites, may also be made.
nitrocellulose gelatine composition and 2%% to The explosives provided according to the present
27.4% by weight of a water insoluble finely : invention are characterised by the fact that they
divided barium salt of a polybasic acid, the said retain to a remarkable degree the normal velocity
liquid composition being thickened by the nitro of detonation which they exhibit under atmos.
cellulose and containing at least a major quantity pheric pressure, even when they are subjected to
of liquid nitric ester. hydrostatic pressures of 20, 30, 40 or even beyond
The said liquid conposition may include a 40 atmospheres; and many of them also maintain
liquid nitrobody as for example a mono-nitro their sensitiveness to detonation by the agency of
toluol as for instance Ortho-nitrotoluol. the aluminium encased blasting detonators of
The water insoluble barium salt of a polybasic Custionally commercial power unimpaired under
acid is enployed in a state of fine division passing these conditions. Moreover their propagating
a 300 E. S. S. Screen and preferably in the form characteristics from cartridge to cartridge as de
of an impalpable powder such as is used in pig 30 tei'inined by the gap test remain in all cases satis
ments for paints and enai nels, whether produced factory.
by chemical precipitation or by milling the Apart from their use in submarine blasting and
naturally occurring nineral. There may be used seismic blasting operations, the improved gelatine
for instance precipitated barium sulphate, or blasting explosives may also be employed for
milled barytes, precipitated barium carbonate, or 35 other purposes where high velocity of detonation
witherite, or precipitated barium chromate, or is desired, for example in plaster shooting, or
bai'in phosphate. blasting in hard rock, even at ground level.
She in proved gelatine explosives may for in The invention is illustrated by the following
stance approximate in their compositions to con examples in which the parts are parts by Weight
ventional blasting gelatine, sodium nitrate gelig 40 except where otherwise indicated.
nites or annonium nitrate gelignites. Thus a
blasting gelatine-like explosive having very much Eacample 1
improved retention of its high velocity of detona Per cent
tion under conditions of increasing hydrostatic 80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethyl
pressures may be obtained by incorporating the ene glycol dinitrate--------------------- 57.5
finely divided water insoluble barium salt of a "Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose-------- 2.4
polybasic acid into ordinary blasting gelatine, Woodmeal ------------------------------- 10.0
preferably during the mixing operation in which Sodium nitrate--------------------------- 24.8
the nitroglycerine-nitrocellulose paste is brought
into the form of a jelly by effecting complete 50 Finely milled barytes as used as a pigment
in paints------------------------------- 5.0
solution of the nitrocellulose in the liquid ex Chalk ----------------------------------- 0.3
plosive nitric ester. In the case of a Sodium gelig
nite-like explosive the finely divided barium salt The liquid explosive nitric ester mixture, the
is preferably incorporated along with the sodium nitrocellulose and a portion of the woodmeal are .
nitrate or the vegetable tissue ingredients or both 55 first mixed by hand and the remaining ingredi
 2,677,605
3 4.
ents are introduced one by one into the resulting
pasty mass in a McRoberts mixer in the order
given, the running of the mixer being continued
until the nitrocellulose is completely gelatinised
and the other ingredients are well distributed
through the resulting jelly. The resulting Sodium
nitrate gelignite-like explosive is cartridged by
extrusion into rigid interconnectable waxed paper
containers as used for seismic prospecting.
When a file of cartridges of 5 cm. diameter
separated by 1 cm. gaps between their ends is
exposed at 40 atmospheres pressure of Water for
24 hours it is found that the first cartridge is
satisfactorily initiated by a No. 8aluminium en
cased lead azide-tetry detonator and that the
third cartridge in the file of cartridges detonates
at a velocity of 7500 metres per second.
In a comparative test of an explosive of simi
lar consistency not in accordance with the in
vention and in which for the barytes there is
substituted a further 5.0% of Sodium nitrate, the
velocity of detonation of the file of cartridges
is 1700 at a water pressure of 3.3 atmospheres.
At 5 atmospheres the second cartridge fails to
detonate.
Eacample 2
Per cent
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
glycol dinitrate ---------------- -------- 87.0
Blasting soluble nitrocellulose ------------- 7.4
Finely milled barytes as specified in Exam
ple 1 ---------------------------------- 5.00.6
Chalk -----------------------------------
The liquid explosive nitric ester and the nitro- 23.5
cellulose are first mixed by hand and the barytes
and chalk are then introduced into the resulting
pasty mass in a McRoberts mixer the running of
which is continued until the nitrocellulose is Com
pletely gelatinised and the barytes and chalk
are well distributed through the jelly. The re
sulting blasting gelatine-like explosive compo
sition is cartridged by extrusion into rigid con
tainers made of waxed paper. When a file of
cartridges of 5 cm. diameter separated by 1 cm.
gaps is exposed to a water pressure of 37 atmos
pheres for half an hour it is found that the
first cartridge is satisfactorily initiated by a No.
8 aluminium encased lead azide-tetryl detonator
and that the third in the file of cartridges deto
nates at a velocity of 7900 metres per Second.
With a comparative blasting gelatine explosive
not in accordance with the invention and Con
sisting of 91.2% of the aforesaid 80:20 mixture
of explosive liquid esters, 8.2% of the "blast
ing soluble’ nitrocellulose and 0.6% chalk and :40 atmospheres.
containing no barytes tested in similar containers
similarly spaced with similar detonators the third
in the file of cartridges detonates with a velocity
less than 1500 metres per second under a hy -60 80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
draulic pressure of 20 atmospheres and the veloc
ity of detonation is still under 1500 metres per "Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose -------- 4.0
Second When the hydraulic preSSure is as low as
7 atmospheres, whereas the velocity of detona
tion is 7800 metres per second at atmospheric
pressure.
The explosive of Example 2 is suitable for sub Chalk ---------------------------------- 0.3
marine blasting and seismic blasting at hydraulic
pressures up to about 40 atmospheres and also
for normal pressure blasting operations calling When
for high velocities of detonation.
Eacample 3
Percent cartridges
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
glycol dinitrate ------------------------ 58.1 75
"Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose ----------- 3.2
Woodmeal ------------------------------ 7.6
Sodium nitrate -------------------------- 25.8
Milled barytes as used in Example ------- 5.0
Chalk ----------------------------------- 0.3
The explosive is made and cartridged as de
scribed in Example 1. When a file of cartridges
of 5 cm. diameter separated by 1 cm. gaps is
exposed at 40 atmospheres water pressure for
0. half an hour and initiated With a detonator Sini
lar to that used in the tests described in the
previous examples the third in the file of car
tridges detonates at a velocity of 6530 metres
per Second.
In a comparative test of an explosive of Simi
liar consistency not in accordance with the in
vention and in which for the barytes there is sub
stituted a further 5.0% of sodium nitrate, the
Velocity of detonation of the file of cartridges is
1710 at a Water preSSure of 3.3 atmospheres. At
5 atmospheres the second cartridge in the file
fails to detonate.
Eacample 4
The composition is the same as in Example 1
except that precipitated barium sulphate is used
instead of milled barytes. The explosive is simi
larly made and cartridged.
When a similarly arranged file of the cartridges
after exposure for 4 hours to a water pressure
of 20 atmospheres is similarly initiated the third
in the file of cartridges detonates at a velocity
of 7900 metres per second.
Eacample 5
Per cent
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
glycol dinitrate ------------------------ 35.0
'Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose ----------- 1.4
40 Woodmeal------------------------------- 4.0
Milled barytes as used in Example 1 ----- 5.0
Ammonium nitrate ----------------------- 54.0
Chalk ----------------------------------- 0.3
Diannonium hydrogen phosphate ------ 0.3
45 The manner of making and cartridging the
explosive composition is similar to that described
in Example 1.
When a similarly arranged file of the cartridges
after exposure for 5 hours at a water pressure of
40 atmospheres is similarly initiated the third in
the file of cartridges detonates at a velocity of
-6520 metres per second. This barytes modified
annonium nitrate gelignite, unlike conventional
annonium nitrate gelignites, can thus be used
for seismic shooting at pressures of the order of
Eacample 6
Per cent
glycol dinitrate --------- -- m r - - - - - - - - - - - 46.0
Ortho-nitrotoluol ----------------------- 4.0
Milled barytes as used in Example 1 ------ 50
Ammonium nitrate ---------------------- 407
The explosive is mixed and cartridged in a
fashion Similar to that of the preceding examples.
a file of cartridges similarly arranged and
initiated is Subjected to a water pressure of 60
atmospheres for 5 hours the third in the file of
per Second.
detonates at a velocity of 7150 metres
The explosive is Suitable for use in
Seismic blasting.

5 6
Eacample 7
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
glycol dinitrate ------------------------ 50.0
"Blasting Soluble' nitroCellulose ---...-----
Woodmeal ------------------------------
Precipitated barium chromate as used as a
pigment in enamels --------------------5.0 De-proteinised de-oiled peanut meal passing
Sodiuin nitrate --------------------------
32.4 16 and retained by 100 mesh B. S. S. Screen 5
Chalk ---------------------------------- 0.3 0. Finely milled barytes as specified in Exam
Diammonium hydrogen phosphate -------- 0.3 ple 1 ------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Sodium nitrate -------------------------- 26.4
The explosive composition is made and car
tridged in a fashion similar to that described in
Example 1. When a file of cartridges similarly
arranged and initiated is subjected to a Water
pressure of 27 atmospheres for 5 hours the third
in the file of cartridges detonates at a velocity
of 7140 metres per second. This barium chro
mate modified Sodium nitrate is Suitable for
seismic blasting purposes and Submarine blast
ing purpoSeS.
Eacample 8
. . The composition is the same as in Example
except that finely powdered precipitated barium
carbonate is used instead of the bariuin chro
mate. The manner in which the explosive is
made is otherwise the same as in Example 7 and
it is similarly cartridged. When a file of car
tridges arranged and initiated in a similar man
ner is exposed to a water pressure of 27 atmos
pheres for 5 hours the third in the file of car
tridges detonates at a velocity of 6520 metres per
Second.
Eacample 9
The composition is the same as in Example:
except that barium phosphate is used instead of
- barium chromate. The explosive is similarly
made and cartridged.
When a similarly arranged file of the car
tridges after exposure for 3 hours to a water
pressure of 54 atmospheres is similarly initiated
the third in the file of cartridges detonates at a
velocity of 7150 metres per second.
Eacample 10
5 parts of milled barytes as used in Example i
are Worked in a McRoberts mixer into 95 parts
of a military gelatine explosive intended to with
stand rifle bullet fire without detonating and
containing
Nitroglycerine --------------------------
'Blasting soluble' nitrocellulose ----------
Guncotton ------------------------------
Mono-nitrotoluol ------------------------
Diethyl diphenyl urea. --------------------
Chalk .. . . . . .-- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2,677,605
Eacample 11
Per cent
Per cent
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
2.0 glycol dinitrate ------------------------ 57.5
10.0 "Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose ---------- 2.4
Woodmeal ------------------------------ 5
Di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate ------- 0.3
Chalk ---------------------------------- 0.3
ihe ingredients are mixed and the cartridges
are prepared and tested as described in Example
1. On exposure at 27 atmospheres water pres
sure for 24 hours the third cartridge in the file
detonates at a velocity of 6800 metres per second.
EacGimple 12
Per cent
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
glycol dinitrate ----------------------- 50
25 "Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose --------- 2.4
De-proteinised de-oiled peanut meal passing
16 and retained by 100 mesh B. S. S. Screen
9
Finely milled barytes as used in Example 5
Sodium nitrate -------------------------- 33.3
30 Chak 0.3
The composition is mixed and the cartridges
are prepared and tested as described in the pre
ceding example except that the time of exposure
35 and the Water preSSures are different. Cn ex
poSure for 5 hours to a water pressure of 60 at
mospheres the third cartridge in a file detonates
at a velocity of 6800 metres per second. On ex
posing another file for five hours to a water pres
40 sure of 106 atmospheres the third cartridge in
the file still detonates satisfactorily. At such
high pressures however occasional failures occur
Owing to the detonators being liable to collapse.
The de-proteinised de-oiled peanut meal which
is used in Examples 11 and 12 is the dried sub
Stantially de-proteinised material obtained by
aqueous alkaline extraction, washing and de
Watering of peanuts from which the oil has been
removed Successively by expression and by ex
traction with a volatile oil solvent. The screened
material has a bulk density of approximately
Per cent 0.46 gm. per C. C. under a packing pressure of
68.3 25 lb./sq. in. and approximately 0.51 gm. per c. c.
5.7 under a packing pressure of 75 lb./sq. in. It
10.0 55 contains approximately 44% carbon, 4.5% nitro
14.6 gen and 6% hydrogen.
0.9 s Eacample 13
- - m a- - - - - -- - - 0.3

The explosive is cartridged in the same way as Per cent

80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene
in the preceding examples. When a file of the 60 glycol dinitrate ------------------------ 50
cartridges arranged and initiated by a similar "Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose---------- 1.8
detonator is exposed at a Water preSSure of 100 Oat husk meal-------------------------- 9
atmospheres for 5 hours the third in the file of Barytes as used in Example 1.-------------- 5
cartridges detonates at a velocity of 7500 metres Balsa. Woodneal----------- - - - - - a - - - - - - - - 3.2
per Second. Sodium nitrate-------------------------- 307
A similar cartridge of the aforesaid military Chalk ----------m H red me a mism and a row an on m - so - - - 0.3
gelatine explosive composition not in accordance
with the invention, due to the absence of barium The composition is mixed and the cartridges
salt, fails to detonate even at atmospheric pres are made up and tested as in the preceding ex
sure when an attempt is made to initiate it with 70 amples, except that the gaps between the car
a similar detonator even at atmospheric preSSure tridges are increased to 2.5 cm. and a No. 6 det
in the absence of an intermediate primer. When onator is used instead of a No. 8. When exposed
such a primer is used the third in a file of Such for 24 hours to a water pressure of 66 atmospheres
cartridges detonates at a velocity of 7000 metres the velocity of detonation of the third cartridge
per second at atmospheric pressure. 75 in the fille is 6250 metres per second,
 e87780s
7 8
EaccEmpie is 2%% to 27A2% by weight of a water insoluble
Per cent finely divided barium salt of a polybasic acid,
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethyl- and at least 35% by weight of a liquid composi
ene glycol dinitrate----------- shaimah as a v - 5 tion consisting of at least a major quantity of
"Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose---------- 3.5 5 liquid nitric ester thickened by a minor quantity
Barytes as used in Example 1.------------ 5 of nitrocellulose.
Ammonium nitrate----------------------- 45.9 2. A gelatine blasting explosive containing
Chalk ---------------------------------- 0.3 2%% to 27%% by weight of a water insoluble
Di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate------ 0.3 finely divided barium salt of a polybasic acid, at
3 least 35% by weight of a liquid composition con
The ingredients are mixed and the cartridges Sisting of at least a major quantity of liquid
are made up and tested as in Example 12 except nitric ester thickened by a minor quantity of
that the gaps between the cartridges are again nitrocellulose, and a liquid nitrobody.
reduced to 1 cm. When subjected for 24 hours 3. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
to a water pressure of 40 atmospheres the velocity
claim 2 wherein the liquid nitrobody is a mono
of detonation is 6820 metres per second. In a nitrotoluol.
test where the water pressure is increased to 66 4. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
atmospheres the cartridge detonates satisfac claim 2 wherein the liquid nitrobody is ortho
torily. nitrotoluol.
Eacd.imple 15 20 5. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
Per cent claim 1 wherein the water insoluble barium salt
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethyl of a polybasic acid is barium sulphate.
ene glycol dinitrate------------------- 35 6. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
"Blasting soluble' nitrocellulose---------- 2.3 claim 1 wherein the water insoluble barium sul
Mono-nitrotoluol -----------------as ---as- 1.9 25 phate of a polybasic acid is milled barytes.
Woodmeal ------------------------------ 0.3 7. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
Ammonium nitrate -------------- mm as a rewrown 42.9 claim 1 wherein the water insoluble barium salt
Di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate------ 0.5 of a polybasic acid is precipitated barium car
Chalk --------------- r- - - - - - - - - - - -a----- 0.3 bonate.
Barytes as used in Example 1------------- 16.8 8. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
The composition is mixed and the cartridges claim 1 wherein the water insoluble salt of a
are made up and tested with a No. 6 detonator polybasic acid is milled witherite.
as in Example 13 except that the gaps between 9. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
the cartridges are 0.5 cm. When subjected for claim 1 wherein the water insoluble barium salt
24 hours to a water pressure of 50 atmospheres of a polybasic acid is precipitated barium chro
the velocity of detonation is 6500 metres per Sec mate.
Ond. 10. A gelatine blasting explosive as claimed in
Eacample 16 claim 1 wherein the water insoluble barium salt
Per cent of a polybasic acid is barium phosphate.
80:20 mixture of nitroglycerine and ethylene 11. A cartridge containing the gelatine blast
glycol dinitrate--------- - - - or wo.-na- - - as - or- 31.5 ing explosive claimed in claim 1.
"Blasting Soluble' nitrocellulose.----------- 2.
Mono-nitrotoluol ------------------------ 17 References Cited in the file of this patent
Woodmeal -----------------------an a usala - ra 0.2
Ammonium nitrate---------------------- 38.5 UNITED STATES PATENTS
Di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate------- 0.5 Nnaber Nare Date
Chalk ---------------------------------- 0.3 1964,755 Woodbury ---------- July 3, 1934
Barytes as used in Example 1------------- 25.2 2,362,618 Winning ---------- Nov. 14, 1944
The composition is nixed and the cartridges st)
are made up and tested as in Example i4. When FOREIGN PATENTS
subjected for 24 hours to a water pressure of 50 Number County Date
atmospheres the velocity of detonation is 6250 6,289 Great Britain ------------- 1895
;metres per second. 28,710 Great Britain -------------- 1903
In the preceding examples the term "blasting 15,564 Great Britain --------------1905
soluble' nitrocellulose means the product of ni 579,376 Great Britain ------- Aug. 1, 1946
tration of purified cotton cops by the pot proc
ess to a nitrogen content of 1.95 to 12.25%. The OTHER REFERENCES
product is at least 95% soluble in an ether-al Davis, "The Chemistry of Powder and Explo
cohol Solution and has a viscosity of 100 to 300 30 sives,' pub. (1943) by John Wiley & Sons, New
C. g. S. in Solution of 3 gms, in 100 ml. :acetOne York, Chapman & Hall Ltd., London, page 334.
(95%) at 20°C. (Copy in Scientific Library.)
What We Clain is:
1. A gelatine blasting explosive containing