Dynamite is a special explosive mixture, the basis of which is nitroglycerin. It is worth noting that in its pure form this substance is extremely dangerous. While the impregnation of solid absorbents with nitroglycerin makes it safe for storage and use, convenient to use. Dynamite may also contain other substances. Typically, the resulting mass is in the form of a cylinder and packaged in paper or plastic.
The invention of dynamite
An important event for the invention of dynamite was the discovery of nitroglycerin. This happened in 1846. The pioneer was the chemist from Italy, Askagno Sobrero. For powerful explosives, they immediately began to build factories around the world. One of them opened in Russia. Domestic chemists Zinin and Petrushevsky were looking for a way to use it safely. One of their students was Alfred Nobel.
In 1863, Nobel discovered a detonator capsule, which greatly simplified the practical use of nitroglycerin. This was achieved by activating explosives with explosive mercury. Many today consider this Nobel discovery more important than the discovery of dynamite.
Dynamite himself a Swedish chemist patented in 1867. Until the middle of the last century, it was used as the main explosive when working in the mountains and, of course, in military affairs.
Dynamite strides the planet
For the first time, Nobel himself proposed using dynamite for military purposes in the year when he patented it. However, then the idea was considered unsuccessful, since it is too unsafe.
On an industrial scale, dynamite began to be produced in 1869. One of the first to use it was Russian industrialists. Already in 1871 it was used in the extraction of coal and zinc ore.
Dynamite production volumes grew exponentially. If in 1867 11 tons were produced, then after 5 years - 1570 tons, and by 1875 up to 8 thousand tons were produced.
The fact that dynamite is an excellent weapon was first understood by the Germans. They began to blow up fortresses and bridges, prompting the use of it and the French. In 1871, this explosive appeared in the engineering forces of Austria-Hungary.
What does dynamite consist of?
As soon as the industrialists and the military of the world learned that it was part of dynamite, they immediately set up its production. They continue to produce it today. Nowadays, it is a cartridge weighing up to 200 grams, which can be used for six months. There are high and low percent substances.
Despite the fact that the composition of dynamite was different for different manufacturers, its main components, of course, remained unchanged.
The main one is nitro mixture. It began to be used to increase frost resistance. It consisted of nitroglycerin and dinitroglycol. This is the main component, which occupied up to 40% of the weight. The next largest component is ammonium nitrate (up to 30%), almost 20% went to sodium nitrate. The remaining components were used to a much lesser extent - nitrocellulose, wood flour, balsa and talc.
Dynamite in the service of criminals
One of the first to understand what dynamite, criminals of all stripes and terrorist organizations are. One of the first crimes involving this explosive occurred in the USA in 1875. The American sailor William Kong-Thomassen tried to blow up the ship Moselle, which went into the sea, to get insurance. However, a barrel of home-made dynamite exploded in the port during loading. The tragedy claimed the lives of 80 people.
However, the first failure did not stop the leaders of the underworld and the terrorists. From 1883 to 1885, members of an extremist organization who advocated the separation of Ireland from Great Britain staged a series of explosions using dynamite. Including an explosion at the headquarters of the British police Scotland Yard and an attempt to undermine the London Bridge.
Used this substance and the fighters against the autocracy in Russia. In particular, the party "Narodnaya Volya". In Europe, dynamite was massively used by anarchists.
The popularity of dynamite falls
For many years, most industrialists believed that dynamite is the main explosive in mining and the discovery of new minerals. He withstood the competition of saltpeter until the middle of the 20th century. In some countries - until the mid-80s. For example, dynamite was very popular in South Africa. It was used here in gold mines. Already closer to the 90s, under the pressure of trade union organizations, most of the factories were redeployed to safer nitrate-based explosives.
Dynamite was also mass produced in Russia after the Great Patriotic War. Particularly popular was the non-freezing composition. Explosives left the domestic industry only in the 60s.
For many countries, dynamite is an affordable and easy-to-produce explosive. This state of affairs persisted for almost 100 years. Today, dynamite occupies no more than 2% of the total turnover of all explosives in the world.