The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

108 PYROTECHNICS
Globe Torpedoes 80
Small cups of manila paper, about % inch in diameter and
% inch deep, are punched out by machine. They are such that
two of them may be fitted together to form a box. The requisite
amount of powdered potassium chlorate is first introduced into
the cups; then, on top of it and without mixing, the requisite
FIGTTKB 34 Manufacture of Globe Torpedoes Introducing gravel and
closing the paper capsules (Courtesy National Fireworks Company and
the Boston Globe )
amount, already mixed, of the other components of the flash fulminating
mixture is added These other components are antimony
sulfide, lampblack, and aluminum Without disturbing the
white and black powders in the bottoms of the cups, workers
then fill the cups with clean coarse gravel and put other cups
down upon them to form closed % by % inch cylindrical boxes
The little packages are put into a heated barrel, rotating at an
angle with the horizontal, and are tumbled together with a solution
of water-glass The solution softens the paper (but later
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