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A saltpetre works or nitrary [1] is a place of production of potassium nitrate or saltpetre used primarily for the manufacture of gunpowder. The saltpeter occurs naturally in certain places like the "Caves of Salnitre" ( Collbató ) known since the Neolithic.
The soot contains potassium oxide or sodium oxide that turns into potassium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide, which corrodes wrought iron or steel gun barrels. Gunpowder arms therefore require thorough and regular cleaning to remove the residue. [8] Gunpowder loads can be used in modern firearms as long as they are not gas-operated.
Potassium nitrate can be made by combining ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide. NH 4 NO 3 + KOH → NH 3 + KNO 3 + H 2 O. An alternative way of producing potassium nitrate without a by-product of ammonia is to combine ammonium nitrate, found in instant ice packs, [30] and potassium chloride, easily obtained as a sodium-free salt substitute.
The combustion products of smokeless powder are mainly gaseous, compared to around 55% solid products (mostly potassium carbonate, potassium sulfate, and potassium sulfide) for black powder. [1] In addition, smokeless powder does not leave the thick, heavy fouling of hygroscopic material associated with black powder that causes rusting of the ...
Early formulations including partially nitrated cellulose with potassium nitrate or barium nitrate were more successful in shotguns than in rifles. [ 3 ] : 287–289 Nitrocellulose produces greater volumes of gas per volume of solid than black powder does, so nitrocellulose bulk powders were less dense than later smokeless powders.
In contact with potassium nitrate (e.g. in black powder) produces potassium perchlorate and hygroscopic ammonium nitrate; no such reaction with sodium nitrate. Reacts with potassium chlorate, producing unstable, gradually decomposing ammonium chlorate; such combination has to be avoided. [1] Nitronium perchlorate
It has been used to fight blazes in the US since 1963, and is the main long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It is also the most-used fire ...
Cave dirt was mined to produce calcium nitrate, which would be combined with potash to create potassium nitrate, a needed ingredient of gunpowder. Lookout Mountain Caverns, the Morrell Cave in Sullivan County, Tennessee, Nickajack Cave, Organ Cave and Selma, Alabama's limestone caves all supplied nitrates for the Nitre and Mining Bureau.