To render Gunpowder Incombustible and Combustible at pleasure

[Professor Marvel]

For Your Entertainment:

Whilst in pursuit of an era for the  transition from Powder Kegs to Powder Tins I came across this amazing bit of information. I leave all experimentation up to the indiscretion of the readers, however should this prove to be effective it could clearly  change the so called "hazardous" issues surrounding shipment and storage of black powder! I shall be cross-posting this on another forum where well-experienced Powder Chemists are known to reside....

found here: http://mspong.org/cyclopedia/misc.html

To render Gunpowder Incombustible and Combustible at pleasure.

It has been recently announced that a plan has been discovered by which gunpowder may be rendered non-explosive at pleasure, and afterwards restored to its former condition of combustibility. This remarkable discovery was lately announced to have been made in England, but it seemed so improbable that little attention was paid to it. By experiments made during October of this your (1865), at Jersey City, New Jersey, under the charge of Mr. Handel Cossham, one of the party of English railway capitalists accompanying Sir Morton Peto to this country, the matter has been clearly demonstrated to be possible. At this experiment, common gunpowder was first exploded in the ordinary manner. Ground glass was then mixed with it, in proportion of two parts of gunpowder to one of ground glass. This mixture then refused to explode under the stimulation of red-hot pokers, matches, fuses, and lighted paper. It took fire and burned slowly, but it would not explode. After these tests the remains of the same powder were sifted, and the glass cleared from it, when, at the slightest touch of a match, the whole compound went off at a flash. But the most remarkable of the experiments was the placing of a four-pound keg of prepared gunpowder on the top of a small portable furnace, in full process of ignition. Under ordinary circumstances, such an attempt would have produced a terrible explosion; but here in a very few minutes it was seen to be perfectly harmless. The hoops of the keg soon fell apart and the powder dropped in the fire, almost extinguishing it.

The addition of ground glass has no chemical effect, but it acts mechanically. The glass separates the grains of powder, and prevents continuous combustion. Each grain is consumed by itself, and does not communicate sufficient force to its neighbor to render the latter dangerous. Mixed in heavier proportions, the gunpowder will scarcely burn; and by uniting four parts of ground glass with one of gunpowder, the latter is rendered as incombustible as a stone.

The importance of this discovery can scarcely be estimated. It is one of the greatest safeguards of human life ever discovered. It will render the powder magazine harmless, and prevent those frequent and terrible events resulting in the loss of life, which have sent misery and woe through many communities. This discovery was made by Mr. James Gale, of Plymouth, England, a blind man, who, in happier days, ere vision was denied him, had been extensively engaged in scientific pursuits.

[Professor Marvel]

Cross-posted as promised, and the Esteemed and Learned Dutch Bill has replied!
please traverse the net here: http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?topic=6040.0
for further educational reading.

yhs
Prof Marvel

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks for posting, Professor.

As always, your words are worth reading and when you add Dutch Bill's ... well, we all are better for it!