CA1037719A - Thickening of solvent explosives systems - Google Patents
Thickening of solvent explosives systemsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1037719A CA1037719A CA227,608A CA227608A CA1037719A CA 1037719 A CA1037719 A CA 1037719A CA 227608 A CA227608 A CA 227608A CA 1037719 A CA1037719 A CA 1037719A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- latex
- polymer
- ammonium nitrate
- weight
- thickening
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
- C06B23/00—Compositions characterised by non-explosive or non-thermic constituents
- C06B23/001—Fillers, gelling and thickening agents (e.g. fibres), absorbents for nitroglycerine
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Processes Of Treating Macromolecular Substances (AREA)
- Liquid Carbonaceous Fuels (AREA)
- Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
- Colloid Chemistry (AREA)
Abstract
THICKENING OF SOLVENT
EXPLOSIVES SYSTEMS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A process is disclosed for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate with a latex of an elastomer which is inverted into the nitrate slurry.
EXPLOSIVES SYSTEMS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A process is disclosed for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate with a latex of an elastomer which is inverted into the nitrate slurry.
Description
~ --1~)3'i'~19 INTRODUCTION
This invention relates to a new and improved method for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives, through the use of a latex of an elastomer In the practice of this invention, a latex containing elastomer is added to a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate. Through the use of a surfactant, preferably oil soluble and of a high HLB value, the latex is inverted, causing the polymer contained in it to solublize into the hydrocarbon slurry and give a thickening effect.
U.S. 3,639,108 teaches the thickening of gasoline with latex compositions. It has been long known in the art that the addition of an oil soluble polymeric composition ~ ill increase the viscosity, and cause a thickening of the solvent in which it is placed. However, the polymer so used has been in inconvenient forms, either solid material which takes long dissolution times before use is practical, or as dilute solutions of the polymer of high viscosity, which due to their low solids content make shipping uneconomical.
The use of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives is well known in the art. It is common practice to use these slurries in a gel form or at least substantially thickened in order that they retain their shape for a temporary period of time. It would be an advantage if the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate could be prepared close to where it is used, quickly, and with simple apparatus.
;~
Il I
~ --- - I
1 1!~3771'~
: l -' The method of this invention, involves an improved method ¦ for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate ¦ explosives. The method of this invention involves adding to a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate explosives a latex of ¦ an elastomer,followed by inverting the latex into the hydrocarbon ¦ oil slurry. The method of this invention, provides to the art a ¦new and improved rapid method for thickening hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives in a short period of time, as well i as providing a more economical means.
. - .
¦ OBJECTS ~
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method for thickening hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method for thickening hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives by inverting a latex of a polymer selected from the group consisting of cis-1-4-polyisoprene and polyisobutylene into a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate.
Other objects will apear hereinafter.
THE INVENTION
` This invention involves a method for thickening hydrocarbcn oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives by adding to such slurry a latex containing a finely divided polymer of either cis-1-4-polyisoprene and/or polyisobutylene, followed by inverting the polymer so as to make it soluble in the oil phase with the use of an oil soluble high HLB surfactant.
:
1~377~9 This invention involves the use of either natural or synthetic latices of elastomers. Specifically, the elastomers involved include cis-l 4-polyisoprene and polyisobutylene, Latices of these polymers are well known in the art and typically contain 5 to 75% by weight polymer, 25 to 75% by weight water, and .01 to 5% by weight of a surfactant which is water-soluble. For the purposes of my invention, it is desirable to use a latex containing as much polymer by weight as possible while still maintaining a stable emulsion. In the practice of my invention, the preferred surfactants used to invert the emulsion are those which are oil soluble and have high HLB values. The surfactant chosen to invert the polymer must be soluble in the particular oil that is used in making the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate which is desired to be thickened. Suitable emulsifiers include diesters of polyethyleneglycol, with molecular weights of between 200 to 600, with fatty acids containing 14 to 18 carbon atoms. Specifically, the preferred emulsifier is polyethyleneglycol of a molecular - weight of about 400 which has been diesterified with oleic acid.
It is important to note however, that the choice of a surfactant for inverting the emulsion will depend on several characteristics, ~ -including: the emulsifier used to produce the polymer latex;
other organic additives present in the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate; and the characteristics of the polymer used.
. . : .. , Based on this, it is advisable to run small-scale tests before ; choos7nga surfactant to be used in larger scale batches~
The HLB system, (hydrophobic-lipophilic balance values), formulated by Atlas Industries is a mechanism by which the hydrophobicity and lipophilicity of surfactants ,. ~ . : .
`~ I .
1 1~)37~9 ¦aremeasured. Typically, latices of elastomers are made with Surfac-¦~ants having a low HLB value (0 to 7). In the choice of an emulsi-¦fier to be used for inverting the latex, a surfactant with an HLB
¦value "opposite" the one used to form the original polymer latex ¦should be used.
I The oil soluble surfactant used for inverting the ¦polymer latex may be added directly to the latex, or to the ¦hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate either before or after ¦the latex of the polymer is added. Typically, from .01 to l~/o by ¦weight of the surfactant used for inverting is added based on the ¦polymer present in the latex. The most preferred amount of surfac-¦tant to be added is from .01 to 5% of the weight based on the poly-Imer contained in the latex. Typically, the amount of polymer used ¦will depend upon the amount of hydrocarbon or oil solvent present ¦in the ammonium nitrate slurry. For best results, I believe that ¦the percent polymer should be greater than 0.1% based on the weight ¦of the total slurry. However, due to characteristics of these ¦solutions and different ways of manufacturing the ammonium nitrate ¦slurries, the level of polymer will vary on a case-by-case basis.
¦The slurries of ammonium nitrate used in this invention may contain ¦either granular powdered or prilled ammonium nitrate. Since the form of ammonium nitrate used will vary the consistancy of the slurry, more polymer may be needed in cases where granular or prilled ammonium nitrate is used rather than powdered ammonium nitrate.
In some cases, using extremely concentrated ammonium nitrate slurries, the polymer content necessary to gel the slurry may be ~ l l l ~ 37 7 ~9 under 3% of the total hydrocarbon or oil solvent. In most cases, however, a level greater than 3% is preferred, and this amount may be increased to as high as 20% for slurries containing small amounts of ammonium nitrate.
In order to prepare a thickened sample of an organic solvent based explosive, the following are procedures that would be followed:
To a 1,000 g. sample of a 75% by weight NH4N03 slurry in No. 2 fuel oil would be added 1.0 g. of polyethyleneglycol (400) dioleate with agitation. Immediately thereafter 60.0g.
of a 50% natural rubber latex would be added to the resulting slurry with agitation. The mixture should thicken within 5 minutes.
To a lOOOg. sample of a 50% by weight slurry of NH4N03 in kerosene would be added 0.5g. of polyethyleneglycol (400) dioleate with agitation. After mixing, 70g. of a 50% by weight latex of polyisobutylene (available commercially) would be added with agitation. The resulting mixture should thicken wi~hin 5 minutes.
I claim:
. , .
This invention relates to a new and improved method for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives, through the use of a latex of an elastomer In the practice of this invention, a latex containing elastomer is added to a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate. Through the use of a surfactant, preferably oil soluble and of a high HLB value, the latex is inverted, causing the polymer contained in it to solublize into the hydrocarbon slurry and give a thickening effect.
U.S. 3,639,108 teaches the thickening of gasoline with latex compositions. It has been long known in the art that the addition of an oil soluble polymeric composition ~ ill increase the viscosity, and cause a thickening of the solvent in which it is placed. However, the polymer so used has been in inconvenient forms, either solid material which takes long dissolution times before use is practical, or as dilute solutions of the polymer of high viscosity, which due to their low solids content make shipping uneconomical.
The use of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives is well known in the art. It is common practice to use these slurries in a gel form or at least substantially thickened in order that they retain their shape for a temporary period of time. It would be an advantage if the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate could be prepared close to where it is used, quickly, and with simple apparatus.
;~
Il I
~ --- - I
1 1!~3771'~
: l -' The method of this invention, involves an improved method ¦ for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate ¦ explosives. The method of this invention involves adding to a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate explosives a latex of ¦ an elastomer,followed by inverting the latex into the hydrocarbon ¦ oil slurry. The method of this invention, provides to the art a ¦new and improved rapid method for thickening hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives in a short period of time, as well i as providing a more economical means.
. - .
¦ OBJECTS ~
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method for thickening hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method for thickening hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives by inverting a latex of a polymer selected from the group consisting of cis-1-4-polyisoprene and polyisobutylene into a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate.
Other objects will apear hereinafter.
THE INVENTION
` This invention involves a method for thickening hydrocarbcn oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives by adding to such slurry a latex containing a finely divided polymer of either cis-1-4-polyisoprene and/or polyisobutylene, followed by inverting the polymer so as to make it soluble in the oil phase with the use of an oil soluble high HLB surfactant.
:
1~377~9 This invention involves the use of either natural or synthetic latices of elastomers. Specifically, the elastomers involved include cis-l 4-polyisoprene and polyisobutylene, Latices of these polymers are well known in the art and typically contain 5 to 75% by weight polymer, 25 to 75% by weight water, and .01 to 5% by weight of a surfactant which is water-soluble. For the purposes of my invention, it is desirable to use a latex containing as much polymer by weight as possible while still maintaining a stable emulsion. In the practice of my invention, the preferred surfactants used to invert the emulsion are those which are oil soluble and have high HLB values. The surfactant chosen to invert the polymer must be soluble in the particular oil that is used in making the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate which is desired to be thickened. Suitable emulsifiers include diesters of polyethyleneglycol, with molecular weights of between 200 to 600, with fatty acids containing 14 to 18 carbon atoms. Specifically, the preferred emulsifier is polyethyleneglycol of a molecular - weight of about 400 which has been diesterified with oleic acid.
It is important to note however, that the choice of a surfactant for inverting the emulsion will depend on several characteristics, ~ -including: the emulsifier used to produce the polymer latex;
other organic additives present in the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate; and the characteristics of the polymer used.
. . : .. , Based on this, it is advisable to run small-scale tests before ; choos7nga surfactant to be used in larger scale batches~
The HLB system, (hydrophobic-lipophilic balance values), formulated by Atlas Industries is a mechanism by which the hydrophobicity and lipophilicity of surfactants ,. ~ . : .
`~ I .
1 1~)37~9 ¦aremeasured. Typically, latices of elastomers are made with Surfac-¦~ants having a low HLB value (0 to 7). In the choice of an emulsi-¦fier to be used for inverting the latex, a surfactant with an HLB
¦value "opposite" the one used to form the original polymer latex ¦should be used.
I The oil soluble surfactant used for inverting the ¦polymer latex may be added directly to the latex, or to the ¦hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate either before or after ¦the latex of the polymer is added. Typically, from .01 to l~/o by ¦weight of the surfactant used for inverting is added based on the ¦polymer present in the latex. The most preferred amount of surfac-¦tant to be added is from .01 to 5% of the weight based on the poly-Imer contained in the latex. Typically, the amount of polymer used ¦will depend upon the amount of hydrocarbon or oil solvent present ¦in the ammonium nitrate slurry. For best results, I believe that ¦the percent polymer should be greater than 0.1% based on the weight ¦of the total slurry. However, due to characteristics of these ¦solutions and different ways of manufacturing the ammonium nitrate ¦slurries, the level of polymer will vary on a case-by-case basis.
¦The slurries of ammonium nitrate used in this invention may contain ¦either granular powdered or prilled ammonium nitrate. Since the form of ammonium nitrate used will vary the consistancy of the slurry, more polymer may be needed in cases where granular or prilled ammonium nitrate is used rather than powdered ammonium nitrate.
In some cases, using extremely concentrated ammonium nitrate slurries, the polymer content necessary to gel the slurry may be ~ l l l ~ 37 7 ~9 under 3% of the total hydrocarbon or oil solvent. In most cases, however, a level greater than 3% is preferred, and this amount may be increased to as high as 20% for slurries containing small amounts of ammonium nitrate.
In order to prepare a thickened sample of an organic solvent based explosive, the following are procedures that would be followed:
To a 1,000 g. sample of a 75% by weight NH4N03 slurry in No. 2 fuel oil would be added 1.0 g. of polyethyleneglycol (400) dioleate with agitation. Immediately thereafter 60.0g.
of a 50% natural rubber latex would be added to the resulting slurry with agitation. The mixture should thicken within 5 minutes.
To a lOOOg. sample of a 50% by weight slurry of NH4N03 in kerosene would be added 0.5g. of polyethyleneglycol (400) dioleate with agitation. After mixing, 70g. of a 50% by weight latex of polyisobutylene (available commercially) would be added with agitation. The resulting mixture should thicken wi~hin 5 minutes.
I claim:
. , .
Claims (5)
1. A process for the thickening of hydrocarbon oil slurries of ammonium nitrate explosives which comprises the steps of:
A. Adding to a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate a latex containing a polymer selected from the group consisting of cis-1-4-polyisoprene and polyisobutylene to provide a polymer concentration in the hydrocarbon oil slurry of NH4NO3 from .01 to 20% by weight; and then, B. Inverting said latex polymer into the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate by means of an oil soluble high HLB surfactant.
A. Adding to a hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate a latex containing a polymer selected from the group consisting of cis-1-4-polyisoprene and polyisobutylene to provide a polymer concentration in the hydrocarbon oil slurry of NH4NO3 from .01 to 20% by weight; and then, B. Inverting said latex polymer into the hydrocarbon oil slurry of ammonium nitrate by means of an oil soluble high HLB surfactant.
2. The process of Claim 1 wherein the latex consists of from 5 to 75% by weight polymer, from 25 to 75% by weight water and from .01 to 5% by weight of a water-soluble low HLB surfactant.
3. The process of Claim 1 wherein the latex is a natural rubber latex.
4. The process of Claim 1 wherein the latex contains from .01 to 10% by weight of an oil soluble high HLB surfactant based on the polymer contained in the latex.
5. The process of Claim 1 wherein an oil soluble high HLB surfactant is added to the hydrocarbon oil slurry of NH4NO3.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US481717A US3919016A (en) | 1974-06-02 | 1974-06-02 | Thickening of solvent explosives systems |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1037719A true CA1037719A (en) | 1978-09-05 |
Family
ID=23913091
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA227,608A Expired CA1037719A (en) | 1974-06-02 | 1975-05-23 | Thickening of solvent explosives systems |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3919016A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1037719A (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4736683A (en) * | 1986-08-05 | 1988-04-12 | Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. | Dry ammonium nitrate blasting agents |
| US4882994A (en) * | 1988-01-28 | 1989-11-28 | Veltman Preston Leonard | Particulate fuel components for solid propellant systems |
| US4960475A (en) * | 1990-03-20 | 1990-10-02 | Cranney Don H | Surfactant for gassed emulsion explosive |
| AUPO679297A0 (en) * | 1997-05-15 | 1997-06-05 | Ici Australia Operations Proprietary Limited | Rheology modification and modifiers |
| US20030024619A1 (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2003-02-06 | Coolbaugh Thomas Smith | Explosive emulsion compositions containing modified copolymers of isoprene, butadiene, and/or styrene |
| EP2601155B1 (en) * | 2010-08-03 | 2018-03-21 | The Lubrizol Corporation | Ammonium nitrate fuel oil mixtures |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3509243A (en) * | 1969-03-07 | 1970-04-28 | David Pelton Moore | Explosive composition containing a mixture of starch rubber vinyl chloride copolymer as binder and method of making same |
| US3741831A (en) * | 1972-06-05 | 1973-06-26 | Dow Chemical Co | Explosive composition containing a vinylidene chloride polymeric latex |
-
1974
- 1974-06-02 US US481717A patent/US3919016A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1975
- 1975-05-23 CA CA227,608A patent/CA1037719A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US3919016A (en) | 1975-11-11 |
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