I don't have access to FO1 CD right now, but from what I remember, you had the option to ask Miles (Adytum chemist) where he gets saltpeter and (I think) sulfur. Now, I'm no expert, but it's well-known that black powder is a proportioned mix of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter.
The problem, as I see it, is that b.p. generates A LOT more smoke than nitrocellulose-based smokeless gunpowders modern guns use. Wouldn't that lead to rapid fouling up of the automatic guns, and making SMGs useless on the account of clouds of noxious smoke? Not to mention the fact that guns would probably be treasured more than ammo, and people would try to be very gentle with them since it'd be kinda hard to replace them. Also, black powder is about three times less powerful than nitrocellulose, which would cause auto and semi-auto guns to jam A LOT, since they weren't designed for b.p.
There's an Internet recipee on making guncotton (nitrocellulose) from sulfuric acid and saltpeter. It's possible that Miles was burning sulfur and saltpeter in water vapors in some sort of condensation chamber to collect (relatively weak, 40-70%) sulfuric acid. But from what I know, you need concentrated sulfuric acid for nitrocellulose manufacture, and that would require very high pressure, temperature, and exotic catalyzers - almost impossible to do in post-nuclear world. Even sulfur/saltpeter burning would probably require large tanks of complicated construction.
On the other hand, Brotherhood of Steel would certainly have the means to make concentrated sulfuric and nitric acid. The only thing that bothers me is why would Hub merchants buy ammo loaded with black powder from Miles if there's higher-quality ammo from BOS on the market.
Miles could easily make potassium chlorate primers, however. They are corrosive, but some armies of the world (like the Russians) still use them, if I remember it right.
Thoughts? Corrections?
The problem, as I see it, is that b.p. generates A LOT more smoke than nitrocellulose-based smokeless gunpowders modern guns use. Wouldn't that lead to rapid fouling up of the automatic guns, and making SMGs useless on the account of clouds of noxious smoke? Not to mention the fact that guns would probably be treasured more than ammo, and people would try to be very gentle with them since it'd be kinda hard to replace them. Also, black powder is about three times less powerful than nitrocellulose, which would cause auto and semi-auto guns to jam A LOT, since they weren't designed for b.p.
There's an Internet recipee on making guncotton (nitrocellulose) from sulfuric acid and saltpeter. It's possible that Miles was burning sulfur and saltpeter in water vapors in some sort of condensation chamber to collect (relatively weak, 40-70%) sulfuric acid. But from what I know, you need concentrated sulfuric acid for nitrocellulose manufacture, and that would require very high pressure, temperature, and exotic catalyzers - almost impossible to do in post-nuclear world. Even sulfur/saltpeter burning would probably require large tanks of complicated construction.
On the other hand, Brotherhood of Steel would certainly have the means to make concentrated sulfuric and nitric acid. The only thing that bothers me is why would Hub merchants buy ammo loaded with black powder from Miles if there's higher-quality ammo from BOS on the market.
Miles could easily make potassium chlorate primers, however. They are corrosive, but some armies of the world (like the Russians) still use them, if I remember it right.
Thoughts? Corrections?
- Colt