~The Firing Point of Explosives.~--The firing point of an explosive may be determined as follows:--A copper dish, about 3 inches deep, and 6 or more wide, and fitted with a lid, also of copper, is required. The lid contains several small holes, into each of which is soldered a thick copper tube about 5 mm. in diameter, and 3 inches long, with a rather larger one in the centre in which to place a thermometer. The dish is filled with Rose's metal, or paraffin, according to the probable temperature required. The firing point is then taken thus:--After putting a little piece of asbestos felt at the bottom of the centre tube, the thermometer is inserted, and a small quantity of the explosive to be tested is placed in the other holes; the lid is then placed on the dish containing the melted paraffin or metal, in such a way that the copper tubes dip below the surface of the liquid; the temperature of the bath is now raised until the explosive fires, and the temperature noted. The initial temperature should also be noted. THE FIRING POINT OF VARIOUS EXPLOSIVES (by C. E. Munroe). (Horsley's Apparatus used.) _____________________________________________________________________ | | deg.C. Nitro-glycerine, 5 years old (a single drop taken) | 203-205 Gun-cotton (compressed military cotton, sp. gr. 1.5) | 192-201 Air-dried gun-cotton, stored for 4 years | 179-187 Ditto, stored for 1 year | 187-189 Air-dried collodion-cotton, long staple "Red Island | cotton," 3 years old | 186-191 Air-dried collodion, 3 years old, stored wet | 197-199 Hydro-nitro-cellulose | 201-213 Kieselguhr dynamite, No. 1 | 197-200 Explosive gelatine | 203-209 Mercury fulminate | 175-181 Gunpowder (shell) | 278-287 Hill's picric powder (shells) Been in store 10 years. | 273-283 Ditto (musket) Composed of-- | 282-290 Ammonium picrate 42.18 % | Potassium picrate 53.79 " | Charcoal (alder) 3.85 " | ________ | | 99.82 | Forcite, No. 1 | 187-200 Atlas powder (75% NG) | 175-185 Emmensite, No. 1 Sample had been stored in | 167-184 magazine for some months in | a wooden box. | " No. 2 Stored in tin case.