How Alfred Nobel Stabilized Nitroglycerin with Dynamite
Alfred Nobel's 1868 patent for dynamite, which made the volatile liquid explosive nitroglycerin safe to handle by mixing it with an absorbent material.
Original patent title: “Improved explosive compound”
Alfred Nobel's 1868 patent for dynamite, which made the volatile liquid explosive nitroglycerin safe to handle by mixing it with an absorbent material. Granted to Alfred Nobel in 1868 with 5 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for stabilizing liquid nitroglycerin by combining it with a porous, inert substance like kieselguhr (diatomaceous earth). By absorbing the liquid into this solid material, the mixture becomes a paste that is significantly less sensitive to physical shock or accidental detonation. This allowed the explosive to be shaped into cartridges and transported safely, whereas liquid nitroglycerin was notoriously dangerous and prone to exploding without warning.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the chemical synthesis of nitroglycerin itself.
- Does not cover liquid-based explosive formulations that lack an absorbent solid carrier.
- Does not cover later high-explosive developments like TNT or plastic explosives.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Nobel realized that the danger of nitroglycerin came from its liquid state, so he essentially turned a liquid into a solid to control its reactivity.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Construction of the Panama Canal
Mining operations in the 19th and 20th centuries
Railroad tunnel blasting
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention fundamentally changed civil engineering and mining. By making explosives reliable and transportable, it enabled the construction of major infrastructure like tunnels, canals, and railways across the globe. It also provided the financial foundation for the Nobel Prize.
Granted
May 26, 1868
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern mining and demolition companies continue to rely on the principles of stabilized explosive compounds. The legacy of this patent is managed through the historical development of the chemical and explosives industry, which evolved into modern companies like Orica and Dyno Nobel.
Market impact
The patent enabled a massive expansion in global infrastructure projects by lowering the risk and cost of blasting. It created a standardized, commercial market for industrial explosives that replaced more volatile and unpredictable alternatives.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for stabilizing liquid nitroglycerin by combining it with a porous, inert substance like kieselguhr (diatomaceous earth). By absorbing the liquid into this solid material, the mixture becomes a paste that is significantly less sensitive to physical shock or accidental detonation. This allowed the explosive to be shaped into cartridges and transported safely, whereas liquid nitroglycerin was notoriously dangerous and prone to exploding without warning.
The clever bit
Nobel realized that the danger of nitroglycerin came from its liquid state, so he essentially turned a liquid into a solid to control its reactivity.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the chemical synthesis of nitroglycerin itself.
- Does not cover liquid-based explosive formulations that lack an absorbent solid carrier.
- Does not cover later high-explosive developments like TNT or plastic explosives.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$7K – $23K
Midpoint $14K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
(1868). How Alfred Nobel Stabilized Nitroglycerin with Dynamite (U.S. Patent No. 78,317). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/78317/dynamite-nobel
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Alfred Nobel Stabilized Nitroglycerin with Dynamite cover?
Alfred Nobel's 1868 patent for dynamite, which made the volatile liquid explosive nitroglycerin safe to handle by mixing it with an absorbent material.
Who owns patent US 78317?
Alfred Nobel owns this patent, granted in 1868.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 78317 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention fundamentally changed civil engineering and mining. By making explosives reliable and transportable, it enabled the construction of major infrastructure like tunnels, canals, and railways across the globe. It also provided the financial foundation for the Nobel Prize.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the chemical synthesis of nitroglycerin itself.
Patent monitoring