gelatinous dynamite

chemical explosive

Also known as: blasting gelatin, gelatin dynamite

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

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Gelatin dynamite is a powerful, water-resistant blasting explosive. It is a jellylike mass composed of nitroglycerin and a less nitrated form of cellulose nitrate. This mixture is combined with a base, such as wood pulp and sodium nitrate.1

Invented by Alfred Nobel, dynamite is based on nitroglycerin but is significantly safer to handle. Early forms used kieselguhr (a porous earth) as an absorbent for nitroglycerin. Later, wood pulp and sodium nitrate were incorporated to increase its strength. Gelatinous dynamite, a variation, is a mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin, offering enhanced water resistance and blasting power.23

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dynamite
Nobel also invented gelatinous dynamite, a mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Ammonium nitrate was later substituted for part of the nitroglycerin to give a safer and less expensive explosive called extra dynamite. See also explosive.
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Nobel also invented gelatinous dynamite, a mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Ammonium nitrate was later substituted for part of the nitroglycerin to give a safer and less expensive explosive called extra dynamite. See also explosive.
Read More