*=B.=--Poudre B is the French service propellant. It consists of nitrocotton gelatinised with ether-alcohol, in which it is partly soluble. A little diphenylamine is added to increase the stability. Formerly, various other additions have been made. A letter or letters are added to show the size of the powder and the purpose for which it is used-- Poudre BF for rifles (from _f_usil). BNF a later powder for rifles (from _n_ouveau). BC for field guns (from _c_ampagne). BSP for siege howitzers (from _s_iège et _p_lace). BGC for larger military guns (from _g_ros _c_alibre). BM for naval ordnance (from _m_arine); a figure is added to show the size. Further letters and figures are added to show other particulars about the powder; D_2 means 2 per cent. of diphenylamine has been added as a stabiliser, or AM_8, 8 per cent. of amyl alcohol. The place and date of manufacture are similarly indicated. =BAELENITE.=--A Belgian mining explosive-- I. II. Ammonium nitrate 85 95 Trinitro-toluene 15 5 Charge limite 0 75 It is authorised for manufacture in, or importation into the United Kingdom. *=BALLISTITE.=--One of the first military smokeless powders, invented by Nobel. It consisted of about equal parts of nitroglycerine and soluble nitrocotton incorporated together under water, then passed repeatedly through rolls and cut into flakes. It was adopted by a number of Continental powers, but in consequence of the severe erosion of the guns which it caused, it has been modified or abandoned. The percentage of nitroglycerine is reduced, and consequently it is necessary to use a solvent such as acetone. A little mineral jelly or other stabiliser is sometimes added. =BARATOL.=--A mixture of barium nitrate and trinitro-toluene. =BARBARIT.=--A German chlorate explosive made at the Sprengstoff-fabriken Kriewald bei Gleinitz. Potassium chlorate 90-92 High-boiling petroleum 8-10 The petroleum has a flash point not below 105° C., and commences to boil not below 242°. Gelatine-Barbarit has the composition-- Potassium chlorate 80 Trinitro-toluene 10 Liquid mono- and dinitro-toluenes gelatinised } with 5 per cent. collodion cotton } 10 =BARKING POWDER.=--A mixture of ammonium perchlorate and nitrated naphthalene, formerly used in coal mines. =BAUTZENER SICHERHEITSPULVER.=--A German coal-mine explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, barium nitrate, and not more than 15 per cent. of trinitro-toluene. =BAVARIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive similar to Grisounite. It contains 90 per cent. of ammonium nitrate together with nitrated naphthalene; charcoal may be added.