"John Reilly" <strbeam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:65fabf99-af24-4bac-9481-8e759fcc3e56@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Jul 1, 11:27 am, richardcas...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Richard Casady)
wrote:
> The first cannon to be raised from the wreck was also sealed with a
> tampion and wax.
> Mr Mensun said: “When we opened it there was a spontaneous combustion
> of gun powder. It started to smoke.” The historians ran in all
> directions, fearing a discharge.
>
> Found this at the naval science group.
>
> Casady
That's interesting! It reminded me of an anecdote I read years ago
about Roger Bacon and his experiments with the mixture we now call
gunpowder. Supposedly, there was an unexpected explosion in Bacon's
laboratory when a damp mixture of saltpetre, charcoal, sulfur and
powdered iron spontaneously fired up. I know that the oxidation
(rusting) of iron in combination with a corrosive salt like nitre can
cause heat. This phenomenon (using iron filings) is the base
component of the hand warmers and meal warmers for military food
rations.
I wonder if the oxidized cannon barrel caused such a reaction when the
atmospheric oxygen reached the powder?
John
I have heard that bacteria can cause this.
Tom
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