Chemistry of Powder and Explosives

the bok is the master bibel bok on all explosives substans in history from black powder to RDX. if you are an explosives expert or a amature pyrotecnictian entusiast this is the bok fore you.!!

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 am realy enjoying this book. It's a great history of powders and pyrotechnics, as well as informitive about the chemistry.I wouldn't recomend for anyone under 21.

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 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.