Customer Reviews

The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a chemistry book for all kinds of people interested in explosive chemistry.This book is not only for the advanced explosive expert,it is also written for the beginner,for learning the basic explosive characteristics. It provides us readers with a well rounded selection of high explosives,including dynamite,R.D.X,TNT,low explosives and propellants, Nitrosamines,primary explosives,the assembling of detonators,and a big chapter of Pyrotechnics is also include. And that is presented us all on 490 pp. for only $ 20.00.That's unbelivabely! He also tells us not only chemical and physical aspects,he discovers the manufacturing of explosives and pyrotechnic compositions through the past centuries and tells us historical facts about explosives.

The late Dr. Davis produced this book as part of the material used for training his grad students in WWII about chemical engineering aspects of explosives. However, the best part of the book is probably the section on the history and development of explosives. Davis was one of those scientists who had a rare grasp not only of the theoretical and practical aspects of his field, but also its historical underpinnings. This book doesn't compare with Urbanski as far as chemical engineering goes, but rather gives a brief overview of many diffrent materials that were in use in the mid twentieth century. I wouldn't recommend this book as a lab manual, but would heartily endorse it as a place to begin the study of the history of this aspect of science.

I ran across this book (earlier edition) as a student. I am not a chemist but I loved chemistry. The book is well written, draws from a wide range of sources and gives fascinating details of reactions and practical details which I just never found anywhere else. I read it with great enjoyment and I hope you do too. Just don't be a bloody fool and maim yourself or kill anyone else. The chemistry and history are fine. Buggering about with them can be a bad, bad move; trust one who has tried!

This work written by Tenney L. Davis prooved to be a fantastic read. Davis uses his knowledge of explosives and chemistry to keep the reader interested as they learn about the many different types of explosives. If you are looking to extend your knowledge of explosives look no further Davis has everything you need to know and more. However if you are looking for an easy book to read for a project you will be dissapointed, Davis uses an extensive vocabulary and at times can be confusing. I would definately recommend this book to anyone interested in chemistry or in explosives. I am interested in both of these and this book was a great tool in providing useful information.

First, realize that this book is a fairly technical organic chemistry text about explosives. Under the heading of explosives also fall black powder and some pyrotechnic compositions, but the bulk of the text is about high explosives. This was one of the first texts I read on explosives, and it is one of the best. That being said, I am a synthetic organic chemist by training, so I have a very different perspective on the material.

As one reader mentioned, there is a lot of history in this book. Davis was the chair of the historical section of the ACS (American Chemical Society) for many years, and it shows here. Much is written about the discovery and the industrial processes used to manufacture explosives. Their uses throughout wars and some commercial aspects are also noted. The history of black powder and pyrotechnics are a very informative read.

This is not a formulations book (i.e., the Anarchists' Cookbook, etc.). While it does have some laboratory procedures in it, they are written at a technical level, and without some knowledge of chemistry, it may be difficult to reproduce them.

The material is a little dated, as many of the explosives discovered after 1943 are left out (HMX, CL-20, etc.), but the explosives field is a very mature one, and the material herein is still quite good.

The pyrotechnics are of the 1940s vintage, where mercury, lead and arsenic salts were still in common use, and some other safety considerations were not in place. This book isn't a great place to try and build a library of formulations from, but it is good for the historical aspect.

Overall, the book is very well written and an interesting read. I enjoyed reading it both for the quality of writing and the witty humor interjected by Davis at times. I would highly recommend it to any chemists in the energetic materials world, as well as those interested in the history or chemistry of explosives.

I didn't like it. First understand that this book was written in two parts in 1941 and 1943. That in of itself does not make it a bad book. After all as the author state "Principles of Chemistry do not change." Very true, but the knowledge of safety and better compositions do change.
Secondly, I estimate the book is approximately 30% history. And some of that is very ancient history indeed, giving compositions dating back to the 1500's. Of what use are these? It wouldn't be so bad if all the history was put in one chapter, but all this history is intertwined within the technical explanation so as to make studing very tiring.
I give it 3 stars because there is enough technical information in the book for the price. But digging it out will be quite a chore.

I'm still reading the book. The truth is that its not what I was expecting, because the book was written about 194X during WW2, I had no idea until I recieved it! But its a very good introduction to the subject as it details the evolution throughout the years (of course, until 194X)

this book does not supply detailed recipes for making boom-boom powder. it deals mostly with the history and chemical structure of numerous types of explosives and pyrotechnics. the average zipper-head terrorist interested in making bombs would find this text very anti-climatic. it's a text book aimed at chemistry students. very interesting reading for a "serious" person wanting to know more about a topic in a legitimate sense.

This is a great book for anybody interested in chemistry. This is a great addition to any lab or library!

The book is what I expected and more! It provides information on the properties of explosives, sparkler comps, star comps, a few flash powder comps, black and smokeless powders, comprehensive synthesis for high explosives, pyrotechnic history, and more.
If you like to experiment with pyro and HE's then I suggest you buy this book and use it as a reference.