CLASSES OF

SMOKELESS POWDER
GROUP 2 (4TH REPORTER)
SINGLE BASE OR THE BASIC INGREDIENT IN SINGLE-

NITROCELLULOS BASED SMOKELESS GUNPOWDER IS

E NITRIC ACID ON COTTON OR

ANOTHER SOURCE OF CELLULOSE
FIBERS. THE PURIFIED
NITROCELLULOSE (NC) IS GELATINIZED
WITH VARIOUS SOLVENTS AND AFTER
THE INCORPORATION OF SELECTIVE
ADDITIVES AND COATINGS, IT
FORMED INTO VERY SPECIFIC SHAPES
AND PARTICLE SIZES
DOUBLE-BASED A GELATINOUS STATE OF NC. THE
NC/NG MIXTURE CAN BE
OR NITRO- EXTRUDED THROUGH CIRCULAR
ORIFICES OF SELECTED DIAMETER
GLYCERLINE TO PRODUCE SEVERAL COMMON
FORMS OF SMOKELESS
GUNPOWDER. IT IS MORE
POWERFUL THAN SINGLE-BASED
PROPELLANTS. THE C3H5 (NO3)3 IS
DERIVED FROM GLYCERINE BY
TREATMENT WITH A MIXTURE OF
CONCENTRATED SULFURIC AND
NITRIC ACIDS.
TRIPLE-BASED
OR NITRO- A PRODUCT OF THREE
COMPOSITIONS AS
GUANIDINE PRINCIPAL INGREDIENTS:
NC/NG AND
NITROGUANIDINE. ONE OF
THE VIRTUES OF TRIPLE-
BASED POWDERS IS THAT IT
IS ENTIRELY FLASHLESS,
THOUGH IT DOES NOT
GENERATE RATHER MORE
SMOKES THAN THE OTHER.
HIGH IGNITION A TYPE OF PROPELLANT IN

TEMPERATURE WHICH THE MAIN

CONSTITUENTS IS FROM THE
HEXOGEN RDX GROUP OF
PROPELLANTS HIGH EXPLOSIVES. IT WAS
MODERATED THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF GELATINIZATION
AND WAS THEN DEVELOPED BY
DYNAMIT NOBEL OF GERMANY,
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
HECKLER AND KOCH FOR THE
LATTER'S G11K2 RIFLE. THIS IS
THE FIRST AND ONLY
PROPELLANT USED FOR THE
CASELESS CARTRIDGE.
PYRODEX
also contains potassium nitrate, charcoal, and
sulfur but in different ratios than black
powder. In addition, Pyrodex contains
potassium perchlorate (KC104), sodium
benzoate, and dicyandiamide along with
small amounts of dextrin, wax, and graphite.

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It is presently offered in three granulations in firearms

CTG FOR LARGE RS FOR MUZZLE-LOADING

CALIBER CARTRIDGE P FOR PERCUSSION
RIFLES AND SHOTGUNDS PISTOLS
GUNPOWDER SHAPES AND SIZES
• Early research into nitrocellulose propellants revealed that the shape and
size of individual propellant granules controlled the rate of energy release.

• Solid granules, (the correct term for a single piece of propellant) bum
from the outside in. As the surface area reduces with burning, energy
release decreases. Likewise, a large granule releases energy over a longer
time interval than will a smaller granule. Controlling granule shape and
size allows propellants to be customized to specific ballistic requirements.

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 Almost all smokeless powder grains have a perfectly definite
shape, such as:
1. SMALL BALL 2. SQUARE 3.DISC

4.FLAKES 5. STRIPS 6. PELLET OR PERFORATED

CYLINDRICAL GRAINS

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 THE SQUARE FLAKES

The Square-flake or Lamel forms all of the

foreign manufacturers. Consequently, they are
frequently found in foreign ammunition.
Several Lamel-type powders have been
imported to the U.S. by the Alcan Powder Co. of
Sweden for use as hand loaders of
ammunition. The burning rate of these powders
is controlled by size thickness and additives.
These forms of propellant can be found in all
types of ammunition (pistol, revolver, rifle, and
shotgun).
.”

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DISK OR FLAKES
propellants are commonly used in
low-pressure, low-volume
applications such as handgun and
shotshell ammunition. Because most
of the burn happens from the large flat
sides inward, the rate of release is
relatively constant until the final stage
of the burn cycle. Disk/flake
propellants are produced by die
extrusion.

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CUT SHEET OR LAMELLE
was the first shape used in modern
propellants. They are most commonly
used in smaller and/or low-pressure
cartridges and the burning
characteristics are identical to extruded
disks. The sheet runs through another
set of rollers fitted with raised cutting
surfaces that cuts the sheet into a
square- or diamond-shaped pieces.

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CYLINDRICAL PROPELLANTS
have the greater surface area and
fall into the medium to slow energy
release category. Some propellants
have cylinders that are solid; others
have perforation(s) running parallel
to the long axis of the cylinder.

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BALL powders and FLATTENED BALL powders

start as nitrocellulose
suspended in a solution that is
agitated to form balls of
varying diameters. These
powders cover a large range
of small arms needs.

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EXAMPLES OF EXTRUED POWDERS:

Click icon to add picture Click icon to add picture

1. TUBULAR 2. PERFORATED 3. IMPERFORATED 4. SQUARE

(IMR 4831) DISC-FLAKE DISC-FLAKE FLAKE/LAMELS
(AL-120) (UNIQUE) (AL-7)

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COMMON EXAMPLES OF BALL POWDERS

2. FLATTENED
1. SPHERICAL BALL BALL 3. CRACKED BALL
(HB-70) (BLC-2) (W-231)
GRAIN

• One seven-thousandth of a pound (0.065 gm). Do not be

confused about a gram the unit of measurement used in
gunpowder contents. (The Unit of measurement of
Gunpowder weights)

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WEAPONS THAT CONTAIN EXPLOSIVES

1. BOMBS
• such as bombs and smart bombs

2. DEPTH CHARGES

• such are those bombs for Anti-warships and

Submarine.

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WEAPONS THAT CONTAIN EXPLOSIVES
3. FIREARMS AND ARTILLERY ARMS
• such are those propelled by cartridges/ammunition.

4. TORPEDOES

• same as depth charges, but a weapon of Submarine.

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WEAPONS THAT CONTAIN EXPLOSIVES
5. MINES
• such are those used for Anti-personnel and Armoured
vehicles.

6. MISSILES
• such as Anti-aircraft, Cruise Missiles, Guided Missiles,
and Projectiles.

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WEAPONS THAT CONTAIN EXPLOSIVES
7. NUCLEAR WEAPONS
• such as Atomic bombs Nuclear Weapons, E.M.P.

8. ROCKETS

• such are those propelled in Space Missions and other

Weaponry

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 PRIMER
A cartridge primer is a small copper or
brass cup, containing a precise amount of
stable but a shock-sensitive explosive
mixture, with ingredients such as lead azide
or potassium perchlorate.

PRIMER-it is the portion of the cartridge

that consists of a brass or guiding metal cup
containing a highly sensitive mixture of a
chemical compound, which when tucked
would detonate to explode. Such an action
is called "percussion".

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ALEXANDER JOHN FORTSYTE
• the first one to conceive the idea of
using detonating compounds for
igniting powder charges in small
arms by percussion. He was a Scotch
Presbyterian Minister, a chemist, a
hunter, and a well-known authority
on firearms.

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PARTS OF THE PRIMER CENTERFIRE
In a typical center fire cartridge three are four parts:
1. PRIMER CUP 2.PRIMING MIXTURE

• this is the container of • the highly sensitive

the priming mixture. chemical mixture
contained in the primer
Primer cups are made of cup. The priming
brass, gilding metal, or chemical itself varies in
copper, depending upon composition depending
on the manufacturer.
the kind of arm they are
intended to be used in
the force of the firing
pin blow available.

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PARTS OF THE PRIMER CENTERFIRE
In a typical center fire cartridge three are four parts:
3. ANVIL 4. PAPER OR DISC

• the portion of the • a piece of paper or a

primer against which disc of tin foil w/c is
the priming mixture is preserved over the
crushed by a blow from priming mixture.
the firing pin. Primer
anvil must be hard,
rigid, resistant, and
necessary to firing the
priming mixture.

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 PRIMER CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
When subsequently introduced into breech-loaded cartridges, the
function of the percussion cap was replaced by the primer.

The Basic Chemical Composition of a Primer:

1. Potassium Chlorate- 45%

2. Antinomy Sulfide-23%
3. Fulminate of Mercury ---32%
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Some Representative Centerfire Primer Compositions
on American Manufacture:

1. "A" - Lead Styphnate (Normal) -38%, Barium Nitrate -43%, Antimony

Sulphide - 12%,
2. "B"-Lead Styphnate (Normal)- 42%, Barium Nitrate-29%, Antimony
Sulphide-16%, PETN- 3.5%. Aluminum powder - 4-5%.
3. "C"-Lead Styphnate (Basic) -41%, Barium Nitrate-42%, Antimony
Sulfide-10%, Tetracene -15%, Nitrocellulose-5.5%

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TYPES OF PRIMER ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTION AND FIRING PURPOSES

FRICTION TYPE (friction tube fire or IGNITER)

a device for the production of fire by frictions of the
thrust either push or pull of roughed rod or wire
through a filled primer composition. Spark or
ignition will directly communicate the propellant
charges of absolutes artillery weapons
TYPES OF PRIMER ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTION AND FIRING PURPOSES

PERCUSSION TYPE

produce fire or flame from the impact of the trigger or

firing pin of a pistol, rifle, or cannon or of the inertia-
operated device in a fuse with functions. Then the
projectile starts on each flight (Percussion - Elements -
the primer of which is called a Conclusion Primer) or of
that which function the projectile strikes its target.
TYPES OF PRIMER SYSTEMS
3. MULTIPLE TYPE
1. BOXER TYPE 2. BERDAN TYPE - ARE THOSE TYPES OF
- A TYPE THAT HAS A - A TYPE THAT HAS ARTILLERY
SINGLE- CENTRALLY TWO (2) FLASH HOLES. PROJECTILES
LOCATED FLASH HOLE
BACKGROUND OF PRIMER SYSTEMS

1. One kind of cartridge primer has an anvil which is part of the cartridge
itself, and this type is called a Berdan primer. This type is the commonly
used primer in European cartridges.

2. Later, a separate, small stamped anvil was invented to replace the integral
anvil of the cartridge, and this combination is the modern replaceable primer
also called a Boxer primer, and is commonly used in American cartridges
(Ironically, the Boxer primer is a European invention, and the Berdan primer
is an American invention). Fired primers were replaced during the Cartridge
Reloading process
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BERDAN VS. BOXER

• Berdan Primers differ from the Boxer version, by virtue of

having the anvil as part of the case, this simplifies the Berdan
primer to an uncomplicated drawn cup containing a detonating
compound. The comparison at right shows the Boxer case head
and primer with three-legged anvils on the left (note central
hole).
• The central anvil post in the right-hand head has two small flash
holes flanking it that allow the ignition flames to be projected
into the charge, the green primer compound is dimpled in this
instance, but some soft compounds are not.
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RIMFIRE PRIMING

• Rimfire cartridges, the priming chemicals are integral to the case.

Making the case with a hollow rim provides space for the
chemicals. A priming compound is a mechanical mixture of lead
styphnate, antimony sulfide, barlum nitrate, and other chemicals.
This combination will create heat and gas when struck sharply.
For rimfire cartridges, raw wet priming mix is placed directly in
the hollow rim cavity. Binders provide all the holding power that
keeps the primer in place. Some rimfire mixes differ from their
centerfire counterparts by the addition of a frictionator (helps
ignition in the rimfire system), which may be finely ground glass.

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thank you