Process for producing silver azide
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorThomas S. Costain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Silver azide crystals of relatively high bulk density and possessing good flowing and initiating properties are obtained by crystallization from aqueous ammonia solution obtainable by double decomposition of silver nitrate and sodium azide in aqueous ammonia solution. The crystallization is accomplished by distilling the ammonia from the solution until the silver azide begins to crystallize, then adding a small amount of acetic acid to induce formation of crystalline nuclei of silver azide, and continuing the distillation of the ammonia until the silver azide is completely precipitated. The silver azide precipitate thus obtained, when isolated, washed and dried, yields a free-flowing granular product of relatively high bulk density and consisting predominantly of cubical crystals.
Claims5
A process for producing a silver azide product in a free-flowing, dense crystalline form having good explosion initiating properties, which comprises preparing a solution of silver azide in aqueous ammonia solution by reacting silver nitrate and sodium azide, removing ammonia from the solution by distillation until incipient crystallization of silver azide from the solution takes place, adding a small amount of an acid to induce the formation of seed crystals of silver azide, continuing the distillation of the ammonia until crystallization of the silver azide is substantially complete while subjecting the liquid to vigorous agitation, whereby the silver azide is produced predominantly in the form of cubical crystals, and separating the resulting silver azide crystals from the liquid mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.