Gunpowder

Gunpowder issubstance which burns rapidly, used aspropellantfirearms. Theretwo types, "black powder""smokeless powder." Almost all modern guns use smokeless powder. While black powderclassified as an 'explosive', modern smokeless powder merely burns rapidly as described below.

Gunpowder burns producingsubsonic deflagration wave rather thansupersonic detonation wave as do high explosives. This reduces peak pressures ingun, but makesless suitableshattering rock or fortifications.

Smokeless powder consistsalmost pure nitrocellulose, frequently combinedup20 percent nitroglycerin corned into small spherical balls or extruded into cylinders or flakes using solvents such as ether. Smokeless powder burns only onsurfaces ofgranules. Larger granules burn more slowly, andburn ratefurther controlled by flame-deterrent coatings which retard burning slightly. The intent isregulateburn rate so thatmore or less constant pressureexerted onpropelled projectile asas itinbarrel so asobtainhighest velocity. Cannon powder haslargest granules, upthumb-sized cylindersseven perforations (one central andother six incircle halfway tooutside ofcylinder's end faces). The perforations stabilizeburn rate because asoutside burns inward (thus shrinkingburning surface area)insideburning outward (thus increasingburning surface area, but faster, so asfill upincreasing volumebarrel presented bydeparting projectile). Fast-burning pistol powdersmade by extruding shapesmore area such as flakes or by flatteningspherical granules. Dryingusually performed undervacuum. The solventscondensedrecycled. The granulesalso coatedgraphiteprevent static electricity sparks from causing undesired ignitions.

Black powder consists ofgranular ingredients sulfur (S), charcoal (provides carbon toreaction)saltpeter (saltpetre, potassium nitrate, KNO₃). The optimum proportionsgunpowder: Saltpetre 74.64%, Sulphur 11.85%, Charcoal 13.51%.

The basic ratio is:

2 parts Sulfur : 3 parts Charcoal : 15 parts Saltpetre

Black powderalso cornedchange its firing rate. Corning black powdervery dangerous because black powder explodes when ground. Corning must be done withpowder wet.

Although black powdernottrue high explosive,United States DepartmentTransportation classifiesas"Class A High Explosive"shipment because itso easily set off.

History

Gunpowder was first discoveredChina in9th century. The discovery appearshave been by accident by alchemists seekingelixirimmortality, andfirst referencesgunpowder appear as warningsalchemy texts notmix certain materials together. By10th century, gunpowder beganbe usedmilitary purposesChina informrocketsexplosive bombs fired from catapults. The first referencecannon appears1126 when oil bamboo tubes were usedlaunch missiles atenemy. Eventually bamboo tubes were replaced by metal tubes, andoldest cannonChina dates from 1290. From China,military usegunpower appearshave spreadJapanEurope. It was used byMongols againstHungarians1241was mentioned by Roger Bacon1248. Bymid 14th century, early cannonsmentioned extensively bothEuropein China.

In China asEurope,usegunpowderproduce firearmscannon was delayed by difficultiescreating metal tubes that would contain an explosion. This problem may have led tofalse myth thatChinese used their discovery only formanufacturefireworks. In fact, gunpowder powered cannonrockets were extensively used inMongol conquests of13th centurywerefeatureEast Asian warfare afterwards. The short squatthick city wallsBeijingexample, were specifically designedwithstand an artillery attack, andMing dynasty movedcapital from NanjingBeijing specifically becausehills around Nanjing were good locationsinvadersplace artillery.

The 15th through 17th century saw widespread developmentgunpowder technology bothEurope andFar East. Advancementsmetallurgy leadsmall weapons anddevelopmentmuskets. Cannon technologyEurope gradually outpaced thatChinathese technological improvements transferred backChina through Jesuit missionaries who were putchargecannon manufacture bylate Mingearly Qing emperors.

UsesGunpowderKorea

It has beenwidely ignored fact that, being closeChina,Koreans effectively used gunpowderconstruct primitive mortars alongcoaststheir countryprotect from Japanese naval attacks. These mortars were also used byKorean General Yi-Shun-Shin1530createfirst armored warshiphistory. He designed this new shiplook liketurtle:was cladiron ontop,coveredspikes, which madeimpossibleJapanese shipsboard it. Arrows were useless against this slow but devastating ship which could fire multiple cannons on each side. With these new inventionsJapanese were forcedretreat from Korea, backtheir islands.