The permit has been repealed.

Gesteins-PLASTAMMON.—A German blasting explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, glycerine, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-toluene or other nitro-compounds, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitro-semicellulose.

Steinkohlen-PLASTAMMON is a variation of this, containing not more than 25 per cent. of potassium nitrate, and intended for use in coal mines.

*PLASTOMENIT was an early German shot-gun powder which possessed no great merits. The following was the composition of a sample examined in 1893, and given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90—

PLASTROTYL.—A German high explosive for filling shell. It consists of a partially liquid mixture of trinitro- and dinitro-toluene gelatinised by means of not more than 0·5 per cent. of collodion cotton, and mixed with a small quantity of turpentine or soft resin. It does not appear to be in use now.

PLESSIT is a blasting explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of potassium chlorate, not more than 9·5 per cent. of kerosene and 0·5 per cent. of albumen. Wetter-Plessit III. contains sodium chloride as well.

PNIOWIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, wood meal and a small percentage of potassium perchlorate.

Nobel POLARITE is a blasting explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It consists of potassium perchlorate, and nitroglycerine mixed with a nitro-compound and gelatinised with collodion cotton, and absorbed in wood meal.

Poudres  B,  J,  M,  S,  T. See under respective letters.

PRAEPOSIT is a modified gunpowder—

the last constituent being a fine powdery substance obtained from dried horse dung. It is slower than ordinary blasting powder and more expensive. It has a tendency to blow out, and opinions as to its value vary. Formerly it was supplied in the form of a fine powder, but it is now granulated or made into compressed cartridges.

*PRIMROSE SMOKELESS is an inexpensive 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co.

PROGRESSIT was an explosive formerly used in Austrian coal mines—

PROMÉTHÉE or PROMETHEUS is a Sprengel explosive made by the French Government, by whom it is also called Explosif O3. It consists of a porous oxygen carrier and a liquid combustible, which are supplied separately, and the one is dipped in the other shortly before use—

Any combination of a, b or c with 1 or 2 may be used. The amount of liquid combustible taken up may vary from 8 to 13 per cent.: this irregularity is a serious defect, and may cause incomplete detonation. This explosive is also made in Italy.

PROSPERIT is a German ammonium nitrate explosive, containing also vegetable meal, nitro-compounds and other constituents. It may contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine.

Gelatine-Prosperit contains also up to 20 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin gelatinised with collodion cotton.

PULVÉRIN.—An ungranulated black powder made in France for use in fireworks, etc.

PULVÉRITE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing perchlorate—

The “charge limite” is 850 grammes, equivalent to 504 grammes of Dynamite No. 1.

PYROCOLLODION is a nitrocotton almost entirely soluble in ether-alcohol, and of comparatively high nitration. It contains about 12·5 to 12·7 per cent. of nitrogen, and consequently has about enough oxygen to oxidise all its hydrogen to water, and its carbon to the monoxide. It was first prepared by Mendeléeff for the Russian smokeless powder, and was afterwards adopted by the United States for their present powder.

PYROXILINE was a name formerly given to nitro-cellulose.

RACK-A-ROCK is a Sprengel explosive which has been used extensively in America, and also in Siberia and China. It consists of cartridges of potassium chlorate mixed sometimes with oxide of iron, which are dipped shortly before use into a liquid. The latter is nitro-benzene or “dead oil,” a heavy hydrocarbon oil obtained from coal-tar, or a mixture of the two. The chlorate cartridges are enclosed in small cotton bags, and are placed in a wire basket suspended from a spring balance. They are dipped into a vessel containing the liquid until a quarter or a third of the weight of the chlorate has been taken up.

R.D.B. (Research Department B). See CORDITE.

RED CROSS explosives are American dynamites containing some nitro-toluene or other substance to make the nitroglycerine low-freezing.

RED H, Nos. 1 to 7 are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are ammonium nitrate mixtures.

*RED STAR is a 33-grain bulk smokeless powder for shot-guns, introduced in 1906 by the New Explosives Co. According to an analysis given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, its composition is—

RENDROCK.—A brand of American dynamite.

REX POWDER is a coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. It is on the Permitted List, and is used to a considerable extent—

REXITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., which was on the old Permitted List. It is no longer “permitted.”

REXOL.—A high explosive containing ammonium perchlorate, zinc dust, resin and mineral oil.

  R.F.G. (Rifled Fine Grain)   } black powders made for rifles
  R.L.G. (Rifled Large Grain) } and rifled ordnance respectively.

RHENANIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and combustibles such as charcoal and naphthalene.

Wetter-Rhenanit is for use in coal mines, and contains also sodium chloride.

Rhenanit V., which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V.

RHEXIT.—An Austrian dynamite.

*RIFLEITE was a completely gelatinised smokeless powder which was made by the Smokeless Powder Co.; it was in the form of flakes. A variety was also introduced for use in shot-guns and was called Shot-Gun Rifleite; this was a 37-grain gelatinised dense powder.

The nitrocellulose was made from lignin. These analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77.

RIPPING AMMONAL. See AMMONAL.

RIPPITE is an explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey, which was on the old Permitted List—

It is no longer “permitted” for use in dangerous coal mines, but is still used for general purposes.

SUPER-RIPPITE is a modification of this, which has passed the Rotherham Test and is on the Permitted List—

RIVALIT is a German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, vegetable meal, nitro-compounds, and may also contain up to 3 per cent. of blasting gelatine.

Rivalit P, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is practically the same as Astralit V.

Chlorat-Rivalit is an explosive of the Cheddite type, introduced in Germany during the War—

ROBURITE is a coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class. In Germany many different mixtures have been made, but in general they are within the following limits—

but some are outside them.

The explosive has also been made in England by the Roburite Explosives Co., Ltd., now incorporated in Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd., who had the following on the old Permitted List—

The following has passed the Rotherham Test and is now on the Permitted List—

ROCKITE is an explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey for quarry work, etc.

ROMPERIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, flour and resin. It may also contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine.

Wetter-Romperit contains also sodium chloride, ammonium chloride or magnesite, and is used in coal mines.

Gelatine-Romperit contains gelatinised nitroglycerine, glycerine, potato meal, etc., and nitrates, and may also contain aromatic nitro-compounds and alkali nitrates.

Romperit G, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V.

ROSLIN GIANT BLASTING POWDER is a perchlorate explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey.

*ROTTWEIL SMOKELESS POWDERS.—These were pushed energetically in England in 1913. They comprised a gelatinised rifle powder, and a 37-grain gelatinised dense shot-gun powder. Analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90—

*RUBY POWDER.—- A 42-grain bulk smokeless powder, for shot-guns, introduced in 1899 by Curtis’s and Harvey. The following analysis was given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917—

It is an inexpensive powder made without solvents.

RUSSELITE.—A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Forcite Co. in Belgium. It was on the old British Permitted List—

*Poudre S is a shot-gun powder made by the French Government. It consists of—

The ingredients are incorporated together under light edge runners, dried and partially gelatinised with 35 per cent. of ether-alcohol. The dough, which is not very coherent, is formed into grains by simply passing it through a sieve. The grains are dried, sifted, hardened if necessary with ether-alcohol, and again dried and sifted.

SABULITE is a blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene and calcium silicide. The last constituent increases the heat of explosion and renders the mixture more sensitive both to detonation and to blows; it plays the same part as the aluminium powder in Ammonal.

This composition was modified by the Belgian Sabulite Co. to render it suitable for use in coal mines: by introducing some potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride it was able to pass the tests, and obtain a place on the list of “explosifs S.G.P.”—

Sabulite has been used as a military high explosive.

SAFETY BLASTING POWDER. See CAHUECIT.

SALIT or Wittenberger Wetterdynamit is a German coal-mine explosive. The following is an analysis—

SAMSONITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List. It is now no longer permitted for use in dangerous coal mines but is still used for general purposes.

During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate, and the nitroglycerine was reduced to 50 per cent.

Nos. 2 and 3 have passed the Rotherham Test and are on the Permitted List—

SAXONITE was the predecessor of Samsonite on the old Permitted List. It has practically the same composition, but wide limits are allowed. It also is used for general purposes. During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate.

Ammon-SCHLESIT or Kohlen-SCHLESIT is a German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate and other nitrates, nitro-compounds, starch, neutral salts, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and not more than 2 per cent. of potassium perchlorate.

SCHNEIDERITE is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell. Its composition is the same as the Favier explosive N₁c.

*SCHULTZE POWDER was the first successful smokeless powder made. It was invented by Capt. E. Schultze of the Prussian Artillery, who appears at first simply to have impregnated little grains of wood with saltpetre (Eng. Pat. 900 of 1864). But later the wood cellulose was purified and nitrated, and then mixed with nitrates. The powder has remained the same as this until the present day, although the methods of manufacture have been developed and, indeed, revolutionised more than once. In “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 75, the following analyses of different brands were given— 

SEBOMITE is a French chlorate explosive resembling Cheddite, but containing tallow instead of castor oil.

SECURITE was one of the first coal-mine explosives. It contained ammonium nitrate and dinitro-benzene, and was therefore similar to Bellite and Roburite.

SECUROPHORE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing nitroglycerine, nitrates, flour and other constituents.

SENGITE is a variety of Tonite introduced in South Africa as a substitute for Gelignite in consequence of the scarcity of glycerine due to the War. It contains guncotton and sodium nitrate, and sufficient moisture to render it safe to handle without diminishing its strength. The first four letters of its name stand for substitute explosive no glycerine. It requires a priming cartridge of gelignite or similar explosive. It is more expensive than gelignite, and consequently is not likely to be used when the scarcity of glycerine has been relieved.

SHELLITE.—A high explosive consisting of picric acid and dinitro-phenol, used for filling shells. The mixture possesses the advantage over straight picric acid that it melts at a lower temperature. It was for a time called Picrol.

SHEPPEY POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. which was on the Permitted List for a short time, but was removed in 1914—

SIEGENIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, flour, and not more than 15 per cent. of dinitro-toluene. For use in coal mines, sodium chloride and magnesium sulphate are added as diluents, and nitroglycerine to increase the sensitiveness.

SILESIA is a German blasting explosive consisting of potassium chlorate, the particles of which are coated with resin or oxidised resin. The latter is made by treating ground colophony, mixed with 10 per cent. of starch, with nitric acid. After washing and drying this is incorporated with the chlorate with the aid of alcohol, in which it is soluble. For use in coal mines sodium chloride is sometimes added. The following are examples—

It is practically the same as Steelite.

*S.K., S.R., S.S., S.V. were partially gelatinised fibrous smokeless powders, introduced by the Smokeless Powder Co. about 1889. They are no longer made. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77—

The nitrocellulose was made from lignin. S.S. was a 38-grain bulk powder; S.R. was a fibrous powder for rifles; S.K. a similar powder for small rifles, and S.V. for revolvers.

*SMOKELESS DIAMOND is a 33-grain bulk smokeless powder for shot-guns, introduced in 1903 by Curtis’s and Harvey. According to an analysis in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 78, its composition is—

*SOLENITE.—A smokeless powder introduced in Italy in 1896 for use in rifles—

It is gelatinised with the aid of acetone, and is made in the form of translucent short tubes of a light brown colour.

SPRENGCHLORAT. See Hassia-Chlorat.

SPRENGEL EXPLOSIVES were patented in 1871 by Dr. Hermann Sprengel, F.R.S., the inventor of the mercury vacuum pump. They are made by mixing an oxidising substance with a combustible one, the essential features being that one or both of the substances must be liquid, and the mixing takes place shortly before the explosive is required. The mixture is exploded by means of a fulminate detonator. As oxidising agents, Sprengel mentioned amongst others nitric acid and potassium chlorate; nitrogen peroxide has also been used; as combustibles, a large number of substances including nitro-benzene, nitro-naphthalene, carbon bisulphide, petroleum and picric acid. For most purposes nitric acid is an inconvenient material to use. Porous cartridges of potassium chlorate constitute the oxidiser generally employed, the combustibles being hydrocarbon oils and nitro-benzene. This possesses considerable advantages, as there is no danger of a premature explosion until the constituents have been mixed. Under the British Explosives Act, however, this mixing constitutes “manufacture,” and can only be carried out in a properly licensed factory. Consequently Sprengel explosives have not been used in Great Britain, but they have been employed on a considerable scale in the United States, France, Italy and other countries.

For examples of Sprengel explosives see Panclastite, Prométhée, Rack-a-Rock.

SPRENGGELATINE is the German for Blasting Gelatine.

SPRENGSALPETER is a cheap German blasting powder made from sodium nitrate, sulphur and brown coal. It is used in the potash mines.

STABILITE is a name that has been given to trinitro-anisole. It has been tried as a constituent of a smokeless powder, but it belies its title as it is readily hydrolysed with the formation of picric acid. It has also been used by the Germans as a filling for bombs.

STANFORD POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive of the Favier class which was on the Permitted List for a short time in 1913.

STEELITE was practically the same as Silesia. Colliery Steelite was a coal-mine explosive on the old Permitted List, and made by Steelite Explosives, Ltd. It contained—

Steelite is no longer authorised for manufacture or import into the United Kingdom.

ST. HELEN’S POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive of the Ammonal type made by the Roburite Explosives Co., which was on the old Permitted List—

STOMONAL is a coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List. In order to pass the Rotherham Test and obtain places on the new Permitted List, No. 1 and No. 2 have had salts added as cooling agents—

STONAX is a low-freezing Gelignite containing a small percentage of a nitro-compound.

STOW-ITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List—

*STOWMARKET SMOKELESS is a 33-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co. It is a comparatively inexpensive powder.

SUNDERITE was a coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd., at one time on the Permitted List—

SUPER-CLIFFITE. See CLIFFITE.

SUPER-CURTISITE. See CURTISITE.

SUPER-EXCELLITE. See EXCELLITE.

SUPERITE.—A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Carbonite Company in Germany, and formerly on the Permitted List—

The Permit was repealed on 21-11-16.

SUPER-KOLAX. See KOLAX.

SUPER-RIPPITE. See RIPPITE.

SWALE POWDER was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by the Cotton Powder Co., Ltd.—

The permit has been repealed.

SWALITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List—

SYNDITE.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List. It was made by the Carbonite Syndicate in Germany—

The permit was repealed on 21-9-16.

*Poudre T is a condensed smokeless shot-gun powder manufactured by the French Government. It is made from guncotton, CP₁, to which 2 per cent. of saltpetre is added, gelatinised with acetone. The dough is pressed into strips which are rolled down to a thickness of 0·15 mm. and cut into small squares of 1·5 mm. side. The powder is then steeped in water to dissolve out the greater part of the potassium nitrate, dried, and finally drummed with a little gum and graphite to make it more progressive. This powder is superior to the other French sporting-powders, but is more expensive. The charge for a 16-bore cartridge is 1·9 grammes.

TELSIT A is a blasting explosive made at the Nobel Works in Switzerland. It consists of ammonium nitrate, nitrated toluene and aluminium powder.

Gelatine-Telsit contains ammonium nitrate, blasting gelatine and liquid trinitro-toluene, also gelatinised with collodion cotton.

Special-Gelatine-Telsit differs from this in having part of the ammonium nitrate replaced by sodium nitrate.

TERRIT is a plastic blasting explosive made in Sweden, and consisting of ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrate and liquid dinitro-toluene, gelatinised with collodion cotton—

It is difficult to detonate.

TETRYL is the name usually given to tetranitro-methyl-aniline, the strictly scientific designation of which is trinitro-phenyl-methyl-nitramine—