Abstract
IN a recent issue of the Revue Scientifique (September 25-October 9) Prof. A. Job has an interesting article upon the chemistry of fire and explosives. After considering the conditions for, and reactions during, ordinary combustion, the connection of explosion with combustion is described. It is pointed out that, in addition to the volume of gas evolved, heat developed, temperature attained, and pressure, another important factor remains, the rapidity of explosion. This leads to a distinction being drawn between explosives suitable for use as propellents, by reason of their progressive combustion, and what are termed in this country “high explosives,” where the decomposition is initiated and propagated by shock (detonation). Mercury fulminate, nitrogen iodide, and lead azide are discussed as types of these sensitive detonating explosives. Fulminate is employed in detonators in France, lead azide being preferred in Germany, it being less sensitive to the decomposing action of moist heat.
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Chemistry of Fire and Explosives . Nature 96, 440–441 (1915). https://doi.org/10.1038/096440b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/096440b0