Inventors and Important Scientist of Explosives and Their Developments - Article Example

Inventors and Important Scientist of Explosives and There Developments Introduction Explosives are more known today for its destructive uses across the world; however, its contribution in construction industries, in mining, paving ways through the hills while laying railway lines in difficult terrains and hilly areas is enormous. There are two kinds of explosives such as low and high explosives. Low explosives are mainly used for propelling applications. High explosives, also known as detonating explosives such as TNT, RDX, are employed for shattering purposes. Being unstable compounds, they decompose rapidly and in that process, they create tremendous pressures shattering surroundings. For last several decades, several inventors and scientists contributed to the development of these explosives. Many later on improved its manufacturing processes and made its handling safer so that risk factors and impending causalities could be reduced. The paper aims at exploring inventors and scientists of numerous explosives that have been invented so far in the different regions of the world regardless of whether the nations used them for constructive or destructive purposes. Black Powder – A Discovery by Chinese and Arabs Regarding the origin of black powder, the first explosive on this planet, it is difficult to say with certainty that who invented it. Black powder was essentially a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. Some scholar says it was originated in China, sometimes in the 9th century with its use was limited to fireworks and signals. Later, in 13th century, it was used to propel stone projectiles by putting it in bamboo pipes. Evidences are available that Arabs knew about black powder even before that and by 1300 they began using black powder in guns. Black powder remained a primary explosive at least until the middle of the 19th century. Till then it was used for making fireworks, firing guns, blasting in mines. Later, it was taken over by more efficient explosives. However, antique gun enthusiasts and special effects specialists still use them. Black powder is manufactured by mixing and grinding 75% potassium nitrate, 10% sulfur and 15% charcoal to create a uniform powder. Sulfur in the gun powder is a corrosive compound and tends to corrode gun pipe when it burns. Records suggest that gun powder was shipped from Ghent to England in 1314. Black powder had its peaceful uses in Europe, especially in Germany, Hungary during 17th century. Its first application in civil engineering works was made in 1679 while making the Malpas Tunnel in France. In the US, Lammot du Pont began producing sodium nitrate powder in 1858, which was though not as efficient as gun powder but was certainly less expensive (A Short History of Explosives, 2000). Ascanio Sobrero & Nitro-Glycerin Nitro-glycerin discovery is attributed to Italian Chemist, Ascanio Sobrero. He discovered nitro-glycerin in 1846. Nitroglycerin is highly unstable explosive. Ascanio made it by "adding glycerol to a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids". Almost 15 years later, the Swiss inventor Immanuel Nobel and his son Alfred began exploring about its commercial uses. George Mowbray Manufacturing of nitroglycerine in large scale in the US is in the name of George Mowbray. Mowbray built plant of nitroglycerine near North Adams for the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel. Pure Nitroglycerin freezes at about 52 degrees F and therefore it is easy to store in ice packets. He produced and supplied nearly 1,000,000 pounds of nitroglycerine without any accidents. In the US, nitroglycerine was used to blasting oil wells to increase the oil flow and therefore its use was wide spread in oil industry. Due to its low cost, it is still sometimes used where oil flow is required from small wells (Explosive, 2014). R.S Penniman Contribution of Penniman from the US was in modifying nitroglycerine. He devised ways to coat the ammonium nitrate with paraffin. This prevented ammonium nitrate picking up moisture resulting into ammonia dynamites in the market (Explosive, 2014). Immanuel Nobel and Alfred Nobel Immanuel Nobel and Alfred Nobel, the father son duo and Swedish nationals, made rigorous efforts between 1959 and 1961 to improve nitroglycerine so that its use can be made in mining and blasting rocks. In 1862, they developed crude processing facilities at Heleneborg, Sweden. Though Alfred developed relatively safe processing facilities yet it exploded in 1864 killing his youngest brother Emil Oskar along with others. Later, he erected facilities in Sweden at Vinterviken near Stockholm and another one at Krummel, Germany. He also built one more plant in Norway. Nobel also took patent for nitroglycerin in the US in 1866. Blasting cap that he developed is known as a remarkable device in the field of explosives even today after black powder. Blasting cap when combined with Bickford’s safety fuse is a reliable device for detonating not only nitroglycerin but other explosives that came into existence later on. A fuse-type Nobels blasting cap remained in use at least until 1920. Alfred Nobel is rather known for his invention on dynamite. While experimenting, he discovered that porous silica has tendency of not only absorbing considerable quantities of nitroglycerin but also it becomes safe and easy when compared with pure nitroglycerin. Alfred made dynamite No. 1 by mixing 75 percent nitroglycerin and 25 percent guhr. Guhr being an inert material did not contribute to but rather retarded the action for it absorbed heat reducing explosive powers. He then chose active ingredients such as sodium nitrate as an oxidizing agent and wood pulp as an absorbent combining with nitroglycerine to make ‘dopes’ in varying proportions. He experimented with the different ratios to increase the efficiency of dynamite. Alfred could make dynamite of varying strengths and named them as straight dynamites. He also got patent registered in his name in 1869. He then moved ahead and invented gelatinous dynamite in 1875. The advantage with this material was far greater blasting property than the straight dynamites and high water resistance. Alfred also made Ballistite, a smokeless powder with nitroglycerin as a primary constituent, by mixing a more soluble nitrocellulose with 60 percent of nitroglycerin. The product had excellent propellant properties and remained in use for more than 75 years. Cordite was the generic name given to such products. In the US, development on smokeless powder technology was slow in comparison to Europe. Hermann Sprengel In 1871, Hermann Sprengel from England got patents of combining nitrates, chlorates, and nitric acid as oxidizing agents with chemicals such as benzene, nitrobenzene and nitronaphthalene as combustible substances. The difference was that one of the chemical was liquid and the mixture can be prepared just before use. These explosives came to be known as Sprengel explosives in Europe. In 1885, Hell Gate blast in New York harbor was done using Sprengel explosives. The incident used 240,000 pounds of potassium chlorate–nitrobenzene along with 75,000 pounds of No. 1 dynamite to eliminate rock (Explosive, 2014). Paul Vieille In 1884, Paul Vieille, the French Chemist, produced the first smokeless powder by dissolving nitrocellulose in a solution of alcohol and ether so as to take a gelatinous form to be rolled into sheets. As the solvent evaporates, it becomes hard and then used in flakes form (Explosive, 2014). Hudson Maxim An American inventor who invented explosives that were extensively used later in World War I. In 1890, after numerous experiments, Hudson built a factory at Maxim, New Jersey to produce explosives. Collaborating with R.C. Schupphaus, he invented the Maxim-Schupphaus smokeless powder, the first in the US that was accepted and adopted by the US government. The smokeless cannon powder invented by him would burn rapidly and was extensively used in World War I. Later, he sold his technology and technology rights to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company and remained engaged with the company as a consultant (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014). Joseph Wilbrand and TNT In 1863, Joseph Wilbrand, the German Chemist, made TNT first time at least 20 years before the world came to be known as its explosive uses. He was attempting to make a dyestuff. TNT offers several benefits when compared with other explosives. When TNT came to be recognized as explosive, picric acid already existed with almost similar structure. Picric acid had many downsides. Firstly, it was acidic causing corrosion to metal casings and secondly, it would explode on slight contacts. TNT is less potent when compared with picric acid; however, it is safe in handling and does not detonate easily. Moreover, it is easy to use in molten forms as its melting point is only 80 degree C. The German military began using TNT in 1902 while the British army more relied on picric acid that was significantly dangerous. In the battle of Jutland in 1916, the British army suffered more losses than the Germans due to these reason. TNT-filled shells penetrate more before exploding producing high velocity shockwaves while picric acid-filled shells explode on contact without penetrating much and thus, cause less damage. Even after more than 100 years of its invention, its use has not subsided in landmines. Besides being explosive, TNT is also toxic and during the First World War more than 17,000 TNT poisoning cases took place leading to over 500 deaths due to anemia and liver damage. During World War I, it was discovered that when molten TNT and ammonium nitrate were used mixing them together. The resultant mixture was then known as amatol. Amatol was as effective as pure TNT. Usually, amatol contained minimum 50% to 80% ammonium nitrate and balance TNT. That is how its costs were brought down. Amatol was used in artillery shells and in aerial bombing. Carl von Linde Carl von Linde, the German Engineer, is known as the inventor of liquid oxygen explosives. In industries, it became popular as LOX. In 1895, he established a large-scale plant to producing liquid air from which pure liquid oxygen was then separated. Due to scarcity of nitrates, Germany used this explosive during World War I. When nitrates made available from synthetic ammonia, its uses diminished. As such, manufacturing of liquid oxygen was cumbersome and expensive too so its use was limited to a few places such as coal mines in the Midwest. While its consumption in 1953 was almost 10,190,000 kilograms, in subsequent years it fell to nil (Explosives, 2014). Du Pont – Nitramon and Nitramex Explosives After the World War I, explosive technologies were expanding rapidly. In 1934, Du Pont developed Nitramon explosives that contained 92 percent ammonium nitrate, 4 percent dinitrotoluene, and 4 percent paraffin wax. Nitramex explosives are much powerful due to TNT and aluminum. In 1958, it was commercially exploited in Seymour Narrows to remove submerged mountain then known as Ripple Rock. The rock had damaged 120 vessels in few years. The removal involved 1,253,000 kilograms of Nitramex 2H (Explosives, 2014). New explosive trends began in 1955 when low explosives also called deflagrating became available. They are different in the sense that detonating explosives such as dynamite or TNT tend to decompose at extremely rapid rates; in contrast, low explosives generate low pressures but tend to burn fast. Christian Schoenbein and E. Schultze – Nitrocellulose Explosives Christian Schoenbein, the German chemist is known for his invention of guncotton or nitrocellulose. He invented it in 1845 to develop a propellant for military purposes. Guncotton acted too fast to make any serious impact on its application. A few years later in 1860, E. Schultze developed a nitrocellulosic propellant. Small wood pieces were poured in nitric acid; after removal, pieces were impregnated with potassium and barium nitrates. Potassium nitrate provided oxygen for burning nitrated wood. The explosive developed by Schultze was highly suitable in shotgun applications but too fast for rifles (Explosives, 2014). Melving Cook In 1956, Melvin Cook produced a new explosive by mixing aluminum powder, ammonium nitrate, and water. The resulting product was efficient and safe; the use of water was also revolutionary. This resulted into a new kinds of explosives called slurry explosives. The invention catapulted explosive industry from dynamite to slurry based explosives that were safe in handling. In 1972, Cook made the BLU-82, powerful explosive involving aluminized slurry. The ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil) is a widely utilized explosive since then. Source: http://lem.ch.unito.it/didattica/infochimica/2008_Esplosivi/ANFO.html Fuel oil used could be diesel, kerosene, or coal dust. It is known as a high explosive because it fires with high velocity. For efficient detonation it needs confinement and booster for firing. Usually, as a booster, a few sticks of dynamite is enough for detonating ANFO. In efficiency terms, ANFO is found to be 80% of TNT; however, it can be further increased by changing fuels. Uniform and proper mixing is required between ammonium nitrate and oil is necessary to use the full potential of explosive. Advantages of such blasting chemicals are its safety, ease of handling, relatively lower price. Another advantage is that Ammonium nitrate dissolves in water so it is ideal in creating borehole and other construction activities (ANFO, 2014). Oldrich Machacek – Water Gel Explosives Oldrich Machacek from Atlas Powder company is the inventor of Water Gel Explosives who patented the invetion in 1975. It has many advantages such as high degree of water resistance, high strength, plasticity necessary to displace air and water to fill the borehole, easy to handle, economical with safety in applying. Water gels are made mixing ammonium nitrate, water, TNT along with gelatinizing agents such as guar gum and borax as a cross-linking agent. Water gels were further improved by adding metallic fuels or aluminum to enhance gelatinizing effect. Nonexplosive sensitizers are also used to replace the TNT if low strength is needed. For higher strengths, TNT proportions are increased (Explosives, 2014). Georg Friedrich Henning – Cyclonite (RDX) Georg Friedrich Henning, the German scientist, obtained a German patent for cyclonite in 1898. He produced it by nitrating hexamethylenetetramine. It is one of the most destructive explosives available today. It is more potent than TNT and used widely in mines, aerial bombs and military. Mercury fulminate can be used as a booster to cyclonite. It releases toxic fumes during decomposition. G. C. V. Herz obtained its British and the US patents in 1921 and 1922 respectively for its manufacturing processes. The German military began exploring its use in 1920 and developed more efficient production methods in the 1930s (Cyclonite, 2008). In the UK, it came to be regarded as RDX when the Research Department established a pilot plant near London. RDX was widely used in the Second World War by both the sides. It came into existence with different names in different countries. For example, it is hexogen in Germany, T4 in Italy and Research Department Explosives in the Canada and the US (RDX, 2014). RDX is known for its terrible destructive abilities and shattering effects. It is entirely a synthetic substance. Initially, at least until 1940, its production in large quantities was not feasible; however, due to efforts of McGill University in Canada, a much easier and simpler way was discovered (Cyclonite, 2008). Conclusion Explosive industry has reached to its current state due to the efforts of numerous inventors, scientists, chemists, especially from Europe and Americas. Amongst all, Alfred Nobel will not only be remembered for a series of his pioneering efforts to developing many explosives including dynamite but also for his gesture to creating the most coveted ‘Nobel Prize’ by donating his life-long fortune for the cause of scientific developments. References ANFO, (2014). Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://lem.ch.unito.it/didattica/infochimica/2008_Esplosivi/ANFO.html A short History of Explosives (2000). mysterynet.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.mysterynet.com/kellerman_faye/explosives.shtml Black Powder. What is Black Powder. wisegeek.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-black-powder.htm Cyclonite (2008). LookChem. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.lookchem.com/CYCLONITE/ Encyclopædia Britannica, (2014). Hudson Maxim. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/370422/Hudson-Maxim Explosive (2014). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/198577/explosive/82368/Dynamite Nitroglycerin (2006). chm.bris.ac.uk. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2006/Macgee/Web%20Project/nitroglycerin.htm Royal Society of Chemistry (2014). Chemistry in its element - TNT. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/podcast/CIIEcompounds/transcripts/TNT.asp RDX (2014). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 6, 2014 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/492672/RDX Read More