Kinetite was an
explosive material
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...
patented in 1884 by T. Petry and O. Fallenstein,
It consisted of
nitro-benzol thickened or gelatinised by the addition of some
collodion-cotton incorporated with finely ground
potassium chlorate
Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the molecular formula KClO3. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline substance. After sodium chlorate, it is the second most common chlorate in industrial use. It ...
and precipitated
antimony sulphide Antimony sulfide may refer to either of two compounds of antimony and sulfur:
*Antimony trisulfide, Sb2S3
*Antimony pentasulfide
Antimony pentasulfide is an inorganic compound of antimony and sulfur, also known as antimony red. It is a nonstoichi ...
.
It is an orange coloured, plastic mass, with the characteristic strong smell of nitro-benzol.
It was manufactured by dissolving
gun cotton in
nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5 NO2. It is a water-insoluble pale yellow oil with an almond-like odor. It freezes to give greenish-yellow crystals. It is produced on a large scale from benzene as a precursor t ...
.
Developed as a safer alternative to
dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and Stabilizer (chemistry), stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish people, Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germa ...
, its manufacture and manipulation were claimed to be without danger, as it required a very high temperature to ignite and, under ordinary circumstances, could not be exploded by heat alone when unconfined.
Instead, it detonated only under shock, and then only the part exposed to concussion.
Largely manufactured in Germany, it was introduced to Australia in 1885 by Thomas Wilkins.
In the same year it was reported to be both £5 per ton cheaper than dynamite, and more efficient for mining operations: In sinking a shaft, a given weight of dynamite enabled to be sunk in 114 shifts, and with the same weight of kinetite were sunk in 94 shifts.
Safety
It was largely unaffected by short immersion in water, when immersion was prolonged however the chlorate dissolved out, leaving a practically non-explosive residue. However, if exposed to moist and dry air alternately, the chlorate crystallised out on the surfaces rendering the explosive very sensitive.
In testing however it was found to be extremely sensitive to combined friction and percussion, and could be readily ignited by a glancing blow with wood. Found also to be chemically unstable, it was known to ignite spontaneously both in the laboratory
and in a magazine.
A report of the French commission on the use of explosives in the presence of
fire-damp in mines concluded that "The presence of chlorate of potash makes this substance too dangerous, for its use to be recommended."
Composition
The principle of the mixture was the enveloping of each particle of the salts in an elastic jelly composed of
hydrocarbons and nitrogen. The jelly additionally supplied material to the explosion.
An 1887 analysis gave the following composition:
References
Explosives
1884 introductions
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