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Old June 26, 2013, 12:04 PM   #8
Jim Watson
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Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,535
The primary flammable constituent of powder gas is carbon monoxide. There is not enough oxygen in the nitro moiety to react all the carbon in the nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine to carbon dioxide. Otherwise there is some carbon dioxide and a good deal of nitrogen. There is likely a little nitric oxide or other NOx but not much; CO and CO2 are favored.

Smokeless powder doesn't really "burn." It is made up of one or two unstable chemical compounds, nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine, that decompose by deflagration with release of heat and gas when initiated.

Black powder can be considered as burning because the potassium nitrate oxidizes the chemically and physically distinct carbon and sulfur in the powder.
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