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How did wood pulp and sodium nitrate improve early dynamite?
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explosive
A coal miner loading a drill hole with a water gel explosive called Tovex.
Early dynamite, as originally patented by Alfred Nobel in 1867, used kieselguhr—an inert, porous siliceous earth—to absorb nitroglycerin. While this made the explosive safer to handle, Nobel realized the inert kieselguhr detracted from the explosive's power by absorbing heat that would otherwise contribute to the blasting action.12
To improve efficiency, Nobel replaced the inert kieselguhr with active ingredients, often referred to as "dopes." Wood pulp was introduced as an absorbent, and sodium nitrate was added as an oxidizing agent. This shift provided two primary benefits:12
- Increased Strength: The oxidizing agent ensured more complete combustion, thereby increasing the overall strength of the explosive.12
- Versatility: By varying the ratio of nitroglycerin to these active dopes, Nobel was able to manufacture dynamite in different, controlled strengths, which became known as straight dynamites.2
These improvements allowed for more efficient blasting and enabled the production of specialized explosive grades tailored to specific industrial needs.2