www.spin-safety.orgCreated by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

The History of Explosives...

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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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.

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

Black Powder

Saltpeter or “Nitre” Chinese as early as

the 10th Century Roger Bacon

published formula in 1242

Berthold Schwartz invented Gun ~ 1300

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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?Baptist Church?

Dance Hall?

Powder MagazineColonial Williamsburg,

VA.

How Important was Black Powder?

Guard House Location 10’ Wall Storage

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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

Nitroglycerin and Dynamite

Dynamite - from Dynamis, meaning power

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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 nitroCons: needs sensitizer, not for small holes

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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

Created by Herbert Oxendine, CSP

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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