Ecrasite

Ecrasite is an explosive material which is unaffected by moisture, shock or fire. It is a mixture of ammonium cresylate with picric acid. It was invented in 1888-1889 by Siersch and Kubin, and used in Austria to load artillery shells.

Ecrasite is prepared from trinitrocresol by neutralizing its saturated solution with ammonia. A salt similar to ammonium picrate is produced.

Ecrasite is a bright yellow solid. It is waxy to touch and melts at about 100 °C. When subjected to open flame, it burns without detonation, unless confined. It is insensitive to friction. It requires a detonator for initiation. Its general adoption was hindered by several unexplained explosions during loading into shells. [ [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15308 Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by P. Gerald Sanford - Project Gutenberg ] ]

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