Gun Powder Research Articles

Water-induced thermal Decomposition of Fireworks Gunpowder Chemical Composition

In the firework industry, thermal decomposition is the main source of minor and fatal accidents. The existence of moisture and hygroscopic property of the fireworks chemical powders leads to thermal decomposition. In this study, firework chemicals combinations are modified by adding charcoal as one of the chemical powder. Here the gun powder is made using different chemical powders like potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal and it could be stored in shadow shed (stage-I) and followed by drying platform (stage-II). During this storage time, thermal analysis is carried out using Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC). DSC result of gun powder (after preparation) shows that thermal decomposition starts at 262.67°C and enthalpy is -521.57J/g. The gun powder from shadow shed it is 263.93°C and enthalpy is -378.21J/g. The onset temperature of the gun powder collected from the drying platform is 265.25°C and enthalpy is -284.01J/g. The sample after preparation contains more amount of moisture content absorbs more heat and initiates the thermal decomposition as earlier than the sample collected from shadow shed and drying platform. The heat dissipation rate is also reduced for stage I than stage II. So, the thermal hazards associated manufacturing process is very high when it contains more amount of moisture content

Neuropathology in Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital: Past, present and prospect.

Pitié and La Salpêtrière, both founded in the17th century, were for long two distinct hospitals until they merged in 1964. The name La Salpêtrière is inherited from the initial purpose of the buildings designed to produce saltpeter for gun powder. But the place was soon transformed into an asylum to shelter the poor and the insane. From the care of this underprivileged population, alienists such as Pinel have paved the way for modern medicine for the mentally ill at the time of the French Revolution. In the second half of the 19th century, Jean-Martin Charcot and his students laid the foundations of modern neurology from the observation of the large population hosted in La Salpêtrière, mostly women with severe chronic diseases. Charcot led clinicopathological studies in almost all the fields of nervous system disorders. His successors (including Raymond, Dejerine, Pierre Marie) maintained the same close relationship between clinical neurology and neuropathology. In parallel with the development of neurosurgery at Pitié hospital, neuropathology first spread through small laboratories attached to clinical departments. The merger of the two hospitals in the early '60s coincided with the creation of a large university hospital in which the care and study of diseases of the nervous system were preponderant. An independent laboratory of neuropathology was created, led by Raymond Escourolle. This period was on the eve of important developments in neuroscience around the world. Today, the Pitié-Salpêtrière neuropathology laboratory still plays a central role between neurology and neurosurgery clinics and major research institutes such as the Brain Institute, callled Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle (ICM), and the Institute of Myology.

Usage of Colloidal Gunpowder Released from Utilized Ammunition in the Mining Industry

Disposal of obsolete munitions is a permanent process, during which colloidal gunpowder are liberated and accumulated. Especially large quantities of such materials were accumulated in the countries ofthe former Soviet Union, including Georgia. Warehousing and storage of such materials and/or direct application may cause a serious threat/risks in terms of ecological and unauthorized use. Therefore, today’s colloidal gunpowder is mainly stored and the expenses of their storage permanently increase, in addition, there is a permanent threat of their unauthorized use, because they belong to the class of explosives. The long-term storage of the overdue gun powders and rocket fuels contains self-blasting risks. So, this problem is urgent at the local and global levels. Traditional ways of problem solution area simple creation of new explosive materials on the base ofthe application of ingredients possessing better properties. In distinct from the traditional methods, the essence of the offered works is a creation of new type industrial explosive compounds and application of fuel removed from utilized missiles/shells of military designation in the role of components of explosive materials. A number of hints have been identified in the process of studying the exploitation of industrial explosives on the base of gunpowder and solid rocket fuel. They have created a prerequisite that the cartridges made on the basis of colloidal gunpowder can be initiated using the malware. This method of initiation allows us to a gradual increase of the gas pressure in the chamber of the critical size at which the pressure of the gas will break through the impact of the shaft and thus the breaking of the rock. In the process of research, explosives characteristics of pyroxylene and ballistic fuel mixtures have been studied. It was established that the granulomatrium composition of the mixture is significantly influenced by these characteristics. For example, if the diameter of the granules varies between 3-20 mm, the reaction of the collapse of the mixture is carried out steadily with blast mode, without switching to the detonation. If 10% or more granules in the explosive mixture are smaller than 1 mm, the combustion process can be transferred to the detonation.

Noise pollution.

Noise pollution has spread over the entire globe: from the initial rumble in the Stone age, the invention of gun powder, and a steady rise during the industrial revolution, to a global acceleration in the second half of the 20th century. Hans Slabbekoorn highlights what we know about the impact of this acoustic climate change, on humans and animals alike.

Craved by heart, carved next to it: Ballistic report of a souvenir bullet casing

A bullet which has been lodged in the body encapsulated by dense fibrous tissue for a long time without causing ill effects is a souvenir bullet. The bullet cartridge is divided into 3 parts: bullet, cartridge case holding bullet with gun powder and detonator at the base. Medicolegal consultation was done with Forensic Medicine Department where cartridge case acted as projectile and accidentally got embedded into the chest of the victim. In an attempt of making an ornament from the casing of bullet which was separated from bullet mechanically and gunpowder was partially removed from the bullet case. When he heated the bullet case to melt and mould, the remaining gun powder ignited with release of large amount of gas which resulted in forceful propulsion and acted as the projectile. An oval penetrating keyhole appearance injury measuring 2 cm x 1.5 cm was present on left side of the chest of the victim. The projectile was found just above the 6th rib and was confined within inter-costal muscle. Although late complications may arise from the metallic toxicity from the bullet case showing manifestations like abdominal pain, anorexia, chronic renal failure, abdominal pain, osteomyelitis, and fistula formation in bones, the projectile was left within the body as a souvenir to be intervened in case complications arise during follow-ups, as manipulating it could cause unanticipated therapeutic complications.

Evaluating polar and non-polar solvents extraction efficiency of gunpowder components by FTIR

Introduction: Crimes involving firearms have been increasing and is a current transnational concern. To face such issues the development of analytical procedures is paramount to increase the efficacy of criminal investigation on homicides and other gun related crimes. The identification of an ammunition type or brand from a simple residue would represent a major contribution for gunshot residues analysis. Such a breakthrough will benefit homicides and war crimes investigation. The composition of gunpowder varies and each ammunition type contains a given formula and often specific components [1–3] suggesting that Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) might be a useful technique for the rapid analysis of gunpowders [2]. Indeed, FTIR has an outstanding discriminatory ability when coupled with chemometrics analysis [3]. Here we present the optimization of the extraction organic solvent for analysis of ammunition contents by FTIR which is an essential step for the discriminatory study of ammunition brands. Materials and methods: An ammunition of caliber .22RL was purchased at Soldiers®. The sample was dissolved in eight different solvents (Acetone, Acetonitrile, Dichloromethane (DCM), Ethanol, Isooctane, Methanol, Methyl Ethyl ketone and n-Hexane), subjected to ultrasound for 30 min and followed by centrifugation. The supernatant was collected and analyzed on a Perkin Elmer 65 FTIR spectrometer coupled to an ATR accessory. A spectral window of 4000-525 cm−1 was used and 32 scans were accumulated at 1cm−1 resolution. Results: Figure 1 shows the FTIR spectra of methanol and n-hexane for the sample used. From the spectra it is clear that methanol is a better extractor than n-hexane. Of the eight solvents used, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and methanol had the better extraction efficiency of gunpowder (GP) while n-hexane and dichloromethane were not able to extract GP. Figure 1. FTIR spectra of sample E dissolved in methanol (blue) and n-Hexane (red). Discussion and conclusions: This study showed that the best solvents for extraction of GP are the more polar solvents containing carbonyl (C = O) and hydroxyl (OH) groups. The best extraction solvents were Methyl ethyl ketone and acetone followed by methanol.

Applications of Direct Injection Soft Chemical Ionisation-Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Pre-blast Smokeless Powder Organic Additives.

Analysis of smokeless powders is of interest from forensics and security perspectives. This article reports the detection of smokeless powder organic additives (in their pre-detonation condition), namely the stabiliser diphenylamine and its derivatives 2-nitrodiphenylamine and 4-nitrodiphenylamine, and the additives (used both as stabilisers and plasticisers) methyl centralite and ethyl centralite, by means of swab sampling followed by thermal desorption and direct injection soft chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry. Investigations on the product ions resulting from the reactions of the reagent ions H3O+ and O2+ with additives as a function of reduced electric field are reported. The method was comprehensively evaluated in terms of linearity, sensitivity and precision. For H3O+, the limits of detection (LoD) are in the range of 41-88pg of additive, for which the accuracy varied between 1.5 and 3.2%, precision varied between 3.7 and 7.3% and linearity showed R2 ≥ 0.9991. For O2+, LoD are in the range of 72 to 1.4ng, with an accuracy of between 2.8 and 4.9% and a precision between 4.5 and 8.6% and R2 ≥ 0.9914. The validated methodology was applied to the analysis of commercial pre-blast gun powders from different manufacturers. Graphical Abstract.

Possible use of carbon nanotubes as taggants in gunpowder for small firearms cartridges

The purpose of the work is to study the possibility of using carbon nanotubes (CNT) as taggants in gun powder to provide expert differentiation of used small firearms cartridges; and to identify the main characteristics of the changes to carbon nanotubes under firing conditions, i.e. short-term exposure to high temperatures and pressures. The principal possibility of using carbon nanotube material for marking gunpowder in small firearms cartridges is stated. There is a need, in both the theory and practice of forensics, to develop such a labeling additive, one that is designed to analyze labeled cartridges and trace their use. We studied the effect of high temperatures and pressures (up to 3000-3500 ºC, 30 MPa) on the behavior of carbon nanotubes by using scanning electron microscopy. We found that the properties of carbon nanotube material - including high chemical and thermal resistance, low prevalence in nature, and a wide variety of forms and configurations - would help solve various investigative issues related to the circumstances of the use of small firearms, in particular, to determine the batch or sample of gunpowder used in the firing of a cartridge.

The Novel Usage of Nitrocellulose as a Propellant of 5.56 mm Bullet

Gun powder is predicted to be more expensive in relation to the world oil shortage crisis in the future. However, cellulose (generic chemical formula (C6H10O5) is the carbohydrate that makes up the main structure of plants. It is more economical especially for countries with a lot of natural resources and rain forests like Malaysia. The finding of the study reveals the capability of nitrocellulose as gunpowder. In this research, a comparison of the same mass of nitrocellulose and gunpowder is made to find out which propellant produce longer distance and greater impact. The main objectives of this study are to find out the performance and capability of nitrocellulose extracted from Rhizophora apiculata compared to gunpowder in terms of velocity, calorific value of bullets and kinetic energy produced. The result shows that the nitrocellulose has better performance than gun powder. The new application of smokeless gun powder ensures troops especially snipers hardly being detected by enemy and at the same time improves safety and security level.

A Multi-channel System for Qualitative Explosive and Drug Detection

It is well known that under blue LED/laser illumination a class of synthetic conjugated polymers can create fluorescence, and after absorbing a certain class of explosive vapors the fluorescence will be quenched thus the explosives can be detected. The unsolved problems are how can we detect drug, TATP and nitro aromatic explosives with the same device, how can we distinguish different explosives and drugs, and how can we avoid false alarms; solving these problems are crucial for world security. We have developed a new synthetic conjugated polymer with single molecule layer and coated on porous silicon with large surface area to increase quenching signal at least one order, based on this new film a small handheld explosive detector with sensitivities of 0.1 pg for TNT and 0.1 ng for black gun powder are obtained. Many explosives and drugs (such as TNT, RDX, PETN, black gun powder, cocaine, etc.) have been tested, from their quenching curves and our data base we are able to distinguish them qualitatively and avoid false alarms. Therefore we believe our detector can be used not only for battle field but also for airports, government entrances and other security check points. Last year, after face to face competition, our device was selected as the only security detector for the G20 summit held in Hangzhou, China. Here, we will give our detailed designs to let readers develop detectors by themselves to counter terrorism in the world and save lives.

Gun powder tools in the village Guri i Bardhë in the province of Mat

Gun powder tools in the village Guri i Bardhë in the province of Mat

Temperaturna parametrizacija potrošnje stabilizatora u prirodno i veštački starenim jednobaznim barutima

The most reliable way of chemical stability assessment and the lifetime prediction of nitrocellulose (NC) gunpowder (GP) by measuring of the stabilizer contents is to monitor the consumption of the stabilizer with time, under storage conditions. Due to the limited time available for testing of reliable lifetime prediction the various methods based on the artificially aging process (which simulates the natural aging of GP) has been developed. The aim is to reach equivalent aging in much shorter time then at ambient temperature under naturally storage conditions. The present article describes the results of comparative analysis of the lifetime prediction of naturally and artificially aged different series of NC-40 powder at ambient temperature 25oC. It is showed that empirical value of activation energy of 80 kJ/mol can be used for extrapolation of the reaction rate constant of the stabilizer consumption in the naturally aged NC-40 powder from average annual temperature 15oC in KB-1 collection (conditions of continental climate) to an ambient temperature of 25oC. The lifetime of naturally aged NC-40 powder calculated in this way is in accordance with the lifetime of artificially aged GPs calculated at ambient temperature 25oC, according to worldwide used standard AOP-48 Ed. 2. The lifetime of the naturally aged NC-40 powder calculated in this way is in accordance with the lifetime which was calculated by Van't Hoff extrapolation method, too.

Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) and His Innovative Work on the Treatment of War Injuries.

The purpose of this study is to summarize the innovations of Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) on the treatment of war wounds and improving amputation technique through ligature in arteries and veins. Ambroise Paré debunked the widely accepted idea that gun powder was poisonous for wounds. He also minimized the use of cautery of wounds by his dressing methods and the application of ligature during amputations. All these innovative rationales revolutionized the practice of war surgery during the Renaissance and paved the way for the introduction of modern surgery. Nevertheless, although his wound dressing innovations became widely accepted, the same did not happen with ligature and amputation; those techniques could become widely applicable if one could somehow control bleeding until the blood vessels had been tied. This became possible much later in the 18th century when Jean Louis Petit invented the first useful and efficient tourniquet.

Numerical simulation and optimized design of cased telescoped ammunition interior ballistic

Abstract In order to achieve the optimized design of a cased telescoped ammunition (CTA) interior ballistic design, a genetic algorithm was introduced into the optimal design of CTA interior ballistics with coupling the CTA interior ballistic model. Aiming at the interior ballistic characteristics of a CTA gun, the goal of CTA interior ballistic design is to obtain a projectile velocity as large as possible. The optimal design of CTA interior ballistic is carried out using a genetic algorithm by setting peak pressure, changing the chamber volume and gun powder charge density. A numerical simulation of interior ballistics based on a 35 mm CTA firing experimental scheme was conducted and then the genetic algorithm was used for numerical optimization. The projectile muzzle velocity of the optimized scheme is increased from 1168 m/s for the initial experimental scheme to 1182 m/s. Then four optimization schemes were obtained with several independent optimization processes. The schemes were compared with each other and the difference between these schemes is small. The peak pressure and muzzle velocity of these schemes are almost the same. The result shows that the genetic algorithm is effective in the optimal design of the CTA interior ballistics. This work will be lay the foundation for further CTA interior ballistic design.

LiNO3-free electrolyte for Li-S battery: A solvent of choice with low Ksp of polysulfide and low dendrite of lithium

Although LiNO3 could effectively solve the polysulfide (PS) shuttle problem in Li-S battery, however, it causes explosive hazards with the cathode composition like gun powder (KNO3, Sulfur, and Carbon). Herein, a LiNO3-free electrolyte was designed to simultaneously inhibit the PS shuttle and lithium dendrite problem, with pure 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as the solvent, due to the low Ksp of polysulfide as well as the stable SEI on lithium. As a synergistic effect, it enabled the Li-S batteries to achieve 95% coulombic efficiency, 3 times longer cycle life, and a slower self-discharging rate at 55°C compared to the DOL/DME blend solvent. Four kinds of batteries, from coins to soft packages, were carried out to confirm the superiority of this electrolyte. Li-S soft package batteries with 4000 mAh capacity were assembled, achieving the specific energy of 350Whkg−1 and specific power of 60Wkg−1, which could cycle over 30 times at 0.2C with high capacity retention of 80%. It is among the best comprehensive Li-S batteries performance reported using LiNO3-free electrolyte.

Induced Change of Electric Self‐Potential and Magnetic Field at the Artificial Explosion

SUMMARYStudy of the electric self‐potential (SP) and the magnetic field was conducted at the explosion seismic experiment in Ooyama, Toyama Prefecture. The explosion was induced by 450‐kg gun powder placed at a depth of 32.2 m to 75 m. The SP was measured by four electrodes arranged in a line crossing the explosion point, where the distance of each electrode from the explosion ranged from 10 m to 100 m. Induced SP changes consisted of two portions, namely, fluctuations with shorter period (∼10 ms) and fluctuations with longer periods (∼50 ms). Regarding the latter, the amplitude was in proportion to the span length of electrode couples and the fluctuations arrived faster at the electrode couples nearer to the explosion. Furthermore, the increment of ground level in SP was observed in each electrode couple after the explosion, which was concordant with the distribution of apparent resistivity underground studied by the survey. The magnetic field measured by the fluxgate magnetometer at the site 35 m north from the explosion also showed change of a few nT after the explosion. This may have been caused by change of magnetic properties underground.

Ultrasensitive photoacoustic sensor based on quantum cascade laser spectroscopy

The paper focuses on development of ultra-sonic detection system based on laser photoacoustic spectroscopic technique and processing of signal for detection of very low quantity chemicals, explosive materials, and mixtures of these hazardous molecules. The detection system has been developed for the first time with specially designed one side open photo-acoustic cell having high quality factor. Explosive and Hazardous materials like RDX, DNT, PETN, Gun Powder, TATP (Tri acetone tri-peroxide) and their simulants like Acetone were detected in 7 to 9μm wavelength band. Lock in amplifier electronic instrument was used for the detection of hazardous chemicals and mixture of explosives in very low quantity. Detection limit of the photoacoustic ultrasonic sensor was also carried out of powder, liquid and adsorbed on surfaces.

Identification of Hydrogen Disulfanes and Hydrogen Trisulfanes in H2S Bottle, in Flint, and in Dry Mineral White Wine.

Through the accidental contamination of a gas cylinder of H2S, the importance of polysulfanes for flint, gun powder, and match odors was discovered. The hydrogen disulfane was prepared from disulfanediylbis[methyl(diphenyl)silane], and its odor descriptor was evaluated in the gas phase from a gas chromatograph coupled to an olfaction port. The occurrence of this compound in flint and pebbles was confirmed by analyses after derivatization with pentafluorobromobenzene. The occurrence of this sulfane was also confirmed in two dry white Swiss Chasselas wines, sorted by a large-scale sensory analysis from 80 bottles and evaluated by 62 wine professionals. The occurrence of disulfane was confirmed for the two wines described as the most mineral. Polysulfane comprises a class of compounds contributing to the flint odor and that may contribute to the wine mineral odor descriptor. Due to the high volatility and instability pure HSSH was not isolated but kept in solution and its odor profile was described by gas chromatography coupled to an olfaction port as flint, matches, and fireworks with a higher odor intensity compared to H2S.

<em>Bayonetta</em>: A Journey through Time and Space

<em>Bayonetta</em>: A Journey through Time and Space

Geo-Regional Security and Transformation After the Balkan's Wars and Kosova Independence

During the '90-ies the wars in the former territories of what was called Yugoslavia marked the end of a century plenty of wars and local armed conflicts. More than 140 million people died because of wars in the XX century. The war of Kosova was the last one in that century. The beginning of the XXI century stressed the necessity for a new way of thinking nationally, regionally and globally. The Balkans were often considered as a gun powder territory. All the Balkans states, someone more and someone less, have problems with each other. History was and remained very passionate within the Balkan countries. The case of Kosova is possibly the most sensitive in all this framework. After the proclamation of independence on February 17 2008, the concerns were high within the region and a new question was questioned: would the map of the Balkan peninsula change again to form another "Kosovo"? This article would give some details about the geopolitical situation in the Balkans focusing on Kosova and would try to establish e new way of making politics and diplomacy though deterrence and not offence. We will try to overpass history but without neglecting it, but by learning from its mistakes in order to bring a better Peace-Building aspect for the Balkan region.