~Kinetite.~—A few years ago an explosive called "Kinetite"[A] was introduced, but is not manufactured in England. It was the patent of Messrs Petry and Fallenstein, and consisted of nitro-benzol, thickened or gelatinised by the addition of some collodion-cotton, incorporated with finely ground chlorate of potash and precipitated sulphide of antimony. An analysis gave the following percentages:—
Nitro-benzol, 19.4 per cent.
Chlorate of potash, 76.9 per cent.
Sulphide of antimony nitro-cotton, 3.7 per cent.
[Footnote A: V. Watson Smith, Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., January 1887.]
It requires a very high temperature to ignite it, and cannot, under ordinary circumstances, when unconfined, be exploded by the application of heat. It is little affected by immersion in water, unless prolonged, when the chlorate dissolves out, leaving a practical inexplosive residue.[A] It was found to be very sensitive to combined friction and percussion, and to be readily ignited by a glancing blow of wood upon wood. It was also deficient in chemical stability, and has been known to ignite spontaneously both in the laboratory and in a magazine. It is an orange- coloured plastic mass, and smells of nitro-benzol.
[Footnote A: Col. Cundill, R.A., "Dict. of Explosives," says: "If, however, it be exposed to moist and dry air alternately, the chlorate crystallises out on the surfaces, and renders the explosive very sensitive.">[
~Tonite No. 3~ contains 10 to 14 per cent. of nitro-benzol (see Tonite). Trench's Flameless Explosive contains 10 per cent. of di-nitro-benzol, together with 85 per cent. of nitrate of ammonia, and 5 per cent. of a mixture of alum, and the chlorides of sodium and ammonia.
~Tri-nitro-Toluene.~—Toluene, C_{7}H_{8}, now chiefly obtained from coal- tar, was formerly obtained by the dry distillation of tolu-balsam. It may be regarded as methyl-benzene, or benzene in which one hydrogen is replaced by methyl (CH_{3}), thus (C_{6}H_{5}CH_{3}), or as phenyl- methane, or methane in which one hydrogen atom is replaced by the radical phenyl (C_{6}H_{5}), thus (CH_{3}C_{6}H_{5}). Toluene is a colourless liquid, boiling at 110° C., has a specific gravity of .8824 at 0° C., and an aromatic odour. Tri-nitro-toluene is formed by the action of nitric acid on toluene. According to Häussermann, it is more advantageous to start with the ortho-para-di-nitro-toluene, which is prepared by allowing a mixture of 75 parts of 91 to 92 per cent. nitric acid and 150 parts of 95 to 96 per cent. sulphuric acid to run in a thin stream into 100 parts of para-nitro-toluene, while the latter is kept at a temperature between 60° to 65° C., and continually stirred. When the acid has all been run in, this mixture is heated for half an hour to 80° C., and allowed to stand till cold. The excess of nitric acid is then removed. The residue after this treatment is a homogeneous crystalline mass of ortho-para-di-nitro- toluene, of which the solidifying point is 69.5° C. To convert this mass into tri-nitro derivative, it is dissolved by gently heating it with four times its weight of sulphuric acid (95 to 96 per cent.), and it is then mixed with 1-1/2 times its weight of nitric acid (90 to 92 per cent.), the mixture being kept cool. Afterwards it is digested at 90° to 95° C., with occasional stirring, until the evolution of gas ceases. This takes place in about four or five hours.
The operation is now stopped, the product allowed to cool, and the excess of nitric acid separated from it. The residue is then washed with hot water and very dilute soda solution, and allowed to solidify without purification. The solidifying point is 70° C., and the mass is then white, with a radiating crystalline structure. Bright sparkling crystals, melting at 81.5° C. may, however, be obtained by recrystallisation from hot alcohol. The yield is from 100 parts di-nitro-toluene, 150 parts of the tri-nitro derivative. Häussermann states also that 1:2:4:6 tri-nitro- toluene can be obtained from ordinary commercial di-nitro-toluene melting at 60° to 64° C.; but when this is used, greater precautions must be exercised, for the reactions are more violent. Moreover, 10 per cent. more nitric acid is required, and the yield is 10 per cent. less. He also draws attention to the slight solubility of tri-nitro-toluene in hot water, and to the fact that it is decomposed by dilute alkalies and alkaline carbonates—facts which must be borne in mind in washing the substance. This material is neither difficult nor dangerous to make. It behaves as a very stable substance when exposed to the air under varying conditions of temperature (-10° to +50° C.) for several months. It cannot be exploded by flame, nor by heating it in an open vessel. It is only slightly decomposed by strong percussion on an anvil. A fulminate detonator produces the best explosive effect with tri-nitro-toluene. It can be used in conjunction with ammonium nitrate, but such admixture weakens the explosive power; but even then it is stated to be stronger than an equivalent mixture of di-nitro-benzene and ammonium nitrate. Mowbray patented a mixture of 3 parts nitro-toluol to 7 of nitro-glycerine, also in the proportions of 1 to 3, which he states to be a very safe explosive.
~Faversham Powder.~—One of the explosives on the permitted list (coal mines) is extensively used, and is manufactured by the Cotton Powder Co. Ltd. at Faversham. It is composed of tri-nitro-toluol 11 parts, ammonium nitrate 93 parts, and moisture 1 part. This explosive must be used only when contained in a case of an alloy of lead, tin, zinc, and antimony thoroughly waterproof; it must be used only with a detonator or electric detonator of not less strength than that known as No. 6.
~Nitro-Naphthalene.~—Nitro-naphthalene is formed by the action of nitric acid on naphthalene (C_{10}H_{8}). Its formula is C_{10}H_{7}NO_{2}, and it forms yellow needles, melting at 61° C.; and of di-nitro-naphthalene (C_{10}H_{6}(NO_{2})_{2}), melting point 216° C. There are also tri-nitro and tetra-nitro and [alpha] and [beta] derivatives of nitro-naphthalene. It is the di-nitro-naphthalene that is chiefly used in explosives. It is contained in roburite, securite, romit, Volney's powder, &c. Fehven has patented an explosive consisting of 10 parts of nitro-naphthalene mixed with the crude ingredients of gunpowder as follows:—Nitro-naphthalene, 10 parts; saltpetre, 75 parts; charcoal, 12.5 parts; and sulphur, 12.5 parts. He states that he obtains a mono-nitro-naphthalene, containing a small proportion of di-nitro-naphthalene, by digesting 1 part of naphthalene, with or without heat, in 4 parts of nitric acid (specific gravity 1.40) for five days.