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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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.

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.Construction of the Panama Canal
• 2.Mining operations in the 19th and 20th centuries
• 3.Railroad tunnel blasting