Sunday, August 28, 2016

Tidbits About Black Powder

Black Powder was around long before the 19th century. There were some significant changes in black powder during this century. Below is a brief outline with some tidbits for you. Please note that it wasn't until 1890 that the term black powder was used, prior to that it was simply called powder. Primarily the change in the name was due to the change in use of the smokeless power (white powder)

1800
Brought about a change in the standard composition of black powder around the world. 15/2/3 of KNO/S/C (elements of the periodic table)

1804
DuPont Powder Mill Established.
Prior to DuPont there were no quality control or regulations on the size of the grain of your powder. So, you'd find out which powder worked best for your weapon and used it.

1810
DuPont becomes America's largest powder producer.
Smokeless powder comes into use.

1825
Europe developes Granulations for specific use

1841
William Bickford (English) invented the first safety fuse.

1846
Ascanio Sobrero (Italian) discovered Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin is a mixture of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and glycerol

Christian Schonbein discovered nitrocellulose or guncotton

1863
Joseph Wilbrand (German) invented Trinitrotoluene (TNT)

1864
The California Powder Works produced it's first powder. Expanded with the Chinese labor force.
Saltpeter (key ingredient of black powder) is in somewhat short supply in East
Saltpeter is now imported from India
Peyton Powder was composed of nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose, ammonium picrate (smokeless & semi-smokeless powder)

1865
Albert Nobel invented the blasting cap.

1867
Albert Nobel patented Dynamite

1888
Albert Nobel invented Ballistite a smokeless powder

1889
Sir James Dewar & Sir Frederick Abel invented Cordite (Another smokeless powder)

1890
The first appearence of the term Black Powder

1894
Military drops Black Powder as prinicipal small arms propellant


Lynn A. Coleman is an award winning & best-selling author who makes her home in Keystone Heights, Florida, with her husband of 42 years. Lynn's latest novel "The Shepherd's Betrothal" is the third book in her Historical St. Augustine, FL. series. Coming in Oct. The Rails to Love Romance Collection

3 comments:

  1. I'm curious if anyone was harmed during the discovery of nitro. This was interesting. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I imagine so but I have no clue who, how or when.

      Delete
  2. An informative post. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete