JOVEITE, jovit, is a ex plosive used in blasting, and as charges for 'high-explosive shells, which was invented by J. E. Blomen, Washington, D. C. It consists of nitro-naphthalenes 6 to 8 per cent, nitro phenols 16 to 30 per cent, and nitrate of soda 64 to 76 per cent. It is made by melting the nitro-naphthalenes in a steam-jacketed kettle, adding the nitro-phenols and continuing the heating until they are melted, and then stirring into this liquid mixture the solid nitrate of soda in a finely ground and perfectly dry condi tion until each of the solid particles of the ni trate is coated and impregnated with the liquid. On cooling, the particles of the nitrate are protected from deliquescence by the coating of scarcely soluble nitro-substitution compounds, while on explosion, the nitrate causes the reac tion to be most complete. For blasting pur poses this explosive is used in a granulated condition, but in loading armor-piercing projec tiles it is poured into the shell while in the plastic condition and on cooling sets to a hard mass which completely fills the cavity except for a canal in the centre where the fuse is placed. For blasting purposes the explosive is
fired by means of a mercuric fulminate detona tor, but the charges in shells are fired by means of gunpowder fuses. In tests of the explosive by the United States navy, made at Indian Head, Md., in 1897, a 10-inch Carpenter armor piercing shell containing 8.25 pounds of joveite, fired with a velocity of 1,860 foot-seconds at a Harveyized nickel-steel armor plate, 14.5 inches thick, passed completely through the plate and burst on the other side. See Exmosrves.