Powder Storage- Powder jug swollen

I have several 2 pound plastic containers of Vit N-150. They have been stored in a large ammo can for several years. Temperatures may have went up and down some but was never extreme……..maybe high in the high 80’s to near 90 and lows never below 40.

When I opened the sealed ammo can the containers (new, un-opened and still sealed) are swollen --- -Very obvious that the powder has liberated a gas of some sort……. What am I seeing here? Ammonia (NH3) ? Nitric Oxide? Nitrous oxide?

Any clues?

Thanks

It is usually Acetone you smell. Look at the grains and see if they are turning white or orange. If they are use the powder for fertilizer. The orange colored grains are weeping nitro-glycerin and they change the burning rate of the powder.

Doug

... that is a new one for me ... got some powder that is more than 20yrs old and never a problem .... of course, the old stuff was not put in plastic ... paper or steel containers.

Run!!

Doc its simple science.. ever heard of something called Lussac's Law? basicly it says pressure and temp are directly related. formula looks like this P1T2=P2T1.. lets just say you bought these and it was 30 degrees that day and now its 76.. the trapped gasses in the can is at 1atmosphere(14psi).. now that its room temp the trapped gas is now 2.3atmosphere(32psi) because the temp has gone up..

Being a VV guy your powder should be glossy black. if it is yellow my trees needs some fertilzing!

Remember the USS Iowa. She was firing 1930's powder if I remember right.
We pulled along side her when they were doing a shakedown in the gulf. Beautiful ship, looked smooth like a shark read to strike sliding through the water. Just an off topic memory.
Back to your post, I'd get it away from anything you value, way away.