Further to replies with earlier uses of silica in munitions.
Propellants were made for use in WW2 at Royal Naval Propellant Factory
(RNPF) in Caerwent South Wales. There was another older RNPF on the South
Coast at Holton Heath from where the work was transferred to Caerwent in the
early 1940s. Propellants were used for propelling shells, mortars and later
in rocket motors.
A very interesting history of RNPF Caerwent has been written by Medwyn Parry
of the RCAHMW in Aberystwyth.
The main products were Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine ; the production of
these involved making sulphuric acid and nitric acid. Silica was used in a
filtering process in the sulphuric plant.
A few quotes from Medwyn's history document:
"Raw sulphur was trucked out of the store, into the weighing room and into
steam heated melters. The molten sulphur was then pumped to vertical
burners, the refractors. It was then filtered in a medium of silica brick
and a catalyst of vanadium pentoxide. The filter converted most of the
sulphur dioxide into sulphur trioxide, and the catalyst converted the
remaining sulphur dioxide".
"At its height Caerwent was the largest ammunition supply depot in Western
Europe, storing over 80,000 tonnes of conventional munitions."
Work at Caerwent continued after the end of WW2:
"During 1953 parts of the Cordite factories were converted for extrusion of
propellant for Guided Weapons booster motors. In 1955 experimental work
began on the propellant for the "Gosling" motors for the "Seaslug" missile
system. Caerwent also manufactured the "Magpie" motors for the "Firestreak"
air-to-air missile and the "Linnet" charges for "Red Top". Limited
experimental work was also carried out on the "Sealyham" rocket motors".
With the huge output of propellants from Caerwent, I expect that several
thousands of tons of silica were used there.
I have the full history by Medwyn as a 7 page word document.
Roger
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Cuckson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 09 February 2003 10:30
Subject: SILICA IN MUNITIONS
> Dear List,
>
> Can anyone fill me in on the uses of silica in the munitions industry? The
> period in question is WW One. Or any useful reference book?
>
> Regards,
>
> Andy Cuckson
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