Brown powder is an explosive agent similar to black powder, but with a slower (and therefore gentler) burning rate. This difference is achieved by incorporating fuel ingredients that are in a less-reactive state; the pulverized and fully processed charcoal (elemental carbon) in black powder provides its distinctive color while its replacement with a different substance produces a more reflective powder, hence its own namesake color. Further modifications of burn rate are made possible by shaping the individual powder grains, often into prismatic shapes such as single-perforated hexagonal or octagonal prisms. <"Chemistry of Powder and Explosives," Tenny L. Davis> Black powder - here a 100 grams container - can be freely bought in Switzerland. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents of animal and vegetable substances. ...

For pure explosive damage, high burn rates or detonation speeds (and accompanying brisance) are generally preferable, but in guns and especially cannons, slower-burning powder decreases firing stresses. This allows for lighter, longer (and more accurate) barrels with associated decreases in production and maintenance costs. Brisance is a measure of the rapidity with which an explosive develops its maximum pressure. ... For other uses, see Cannon (disambiguation). ...