Gunpowder

Mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur, forming an explosive agent to fire projectiles from guns. While the Moors or Saracens are usually credited with its first application to military purposes, its properties as an explosive agent were not generally known to European nations until early in the 14th century. In the early gunpowders the ingredients were mixed together in about equal proportions, giving a weak powder. As the art of gun making improved, the relative proportion of saltpeter was gradually increased, and the explosive qualities thus greatly improved. The usual proportions are now by weight, 75 parts of saltpeter, 15 of charcoal, and 10 of sulphur. The objects sought to be attained in its manufacture are maximum propelling force, coupled with minimum initial pre ure in the bore, uniformity of action, capability to bear transportation with safety, and storage without deterioration. To secure the first, particular attention is paid to the size, shape and density of the grain grains, and special powders powders are devised for guns of various calibers. The fine-grained powders, varying from 0.03 to 0.06 inch in diameter, giving a rapid evolution of gas, are used for small arms; special powders of larger grain, as mammoth, pebble, cubical, hexagonal and perforated prismatic, by which the rate of combustion can be regulated in accordance with the desired stre es, are used for cannon. To secure uniformity of action the ingredients should be pure, finely divided, and intimately intermixed. Brown or Cocoa powder is a mixture of 79 parts pota ium nitrate, 3 of sulphur, and 18 of carbon, the last being lightly baked brown charcoal. It is formed as hexagonal prism with round central hole, first used in Germany 1882. Used by U. S. Government in B. L. guns of large caliber.