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The History of Explosives. Disclaimer.
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Disclaimer The information presented in this presentation has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable and is intended to be a tool to assist and guide you in building your own presentation. This program may not address all the hazardous conditions or unsafe acts that may exist. For that reason, SPIN cautions users to confirm accuracy and compliance with the latest standards and best practices. Local, State/Provincial and Federal regulations take precedence over this material. Implementation of any practices suggested by this program is at your sole discretion, and SPIN will have no liability to any party for any damages including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, special or consequential damages, arising out of or in connection with the information provided or its use.
Black Powder • Saltpeter or “Nitre” • Chinese as early as the 10th Century • Roger Bacon published formula in 1242 • Berthold Schwartz invented Gun ~ 1300
Black Powder • First Powder Mill in Massachusetts in 1675 • Americans first blasted with powder around 1773 • American Revolution hastened manufacture of black powder • New frontiers required blasting to build roads and canals for transporting goods and people (early 1800s)
What is This? Dance Hall? Baptist Church? Powder Magazine Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
How Important was Black Powder? 10’ Wall Guard House Location Storage
Nitroglycerin and Dynamite • Discovered by Ascanio Sobrero in 1846 • Nobel built factory in 1861 • Nobel Patented Dynamite in 1867 • Problems included fumes, freezing, & headaches • 750 million pounds manufactured in 1955 Dynamite - from Dynamis, meaning power
Ammonium Nitrate • Synthesized in 1659 by J. R. Glauber • Used for fertilizer and explosives products • Texas City explosion • ANFO • Pros: Easier to load, cheaper, and safer than dynamite • Cons: desensitized by water • Over 2.2 Billion pounds manufactured in 1974
Water Gels • Developed in 1940s to solve the water problem • Non-Nitroglycerin • 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
Binary/Two Component Explosives • Usually consist of Ammonium Nitrate (sensitizer) and Nitromethane (fuel) • 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 140F • Disadvantages include: • cost • time required to mix
Initiation Devices • Safety Fuse • Fuse Caps • Electric Blasting Caps • Delay Caps • Vented Caps • Composition Caps • Detonating Cord • Nonelectric Delay Caps • Shock Tube
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