Bulk Powders

Bulk powders are types of gunpowders consisting of nitrocellulose and a mixture of other chemically explosive solutions. These nitrocellulose fibers are stuck together, but are not completely collided. Some contain little else but nitrocellulose; others contain, in addition to potassium and barium nitrates, camphor, vaseline, paraffin, lampblack, starch, dextrine, potassium dichromate or other oxidizing or deterrent salts, and diphenylamine for stabilization, and are colored in a variety of brilliant hues by means of col- tar dyes. Three typical bulk powders are made up according to the approximate formulas tabulated below:

     Nitrocellulose........................ 84.0   87.0   89.0
       % N in nitrocellulose............... 13.2   12.9   12.9
     Potassium nitrate.....................  7.5    6.0    6.0
     Barium nitrate........................  7.5    2.0    3.0
     Starch................................  -.-    -.-    1.0
     Paraffin oil..........................  -.-    4.0    -.-
     Diphenylamine.........................  1.0    1.0    1.0

The mixture is mixed in warm water and dried thoroughly. Then either granulated or made into powder by crushing with a wooden block and screened through a 12-mesh sieve. The material is then stored in a moisture-resistant container for future or immediate use.