CA1136419A - Explosive booster - Google Patents

Explosive booster

Info

Publication number
CA1136419A
CA1136419A CA000334455A CA334455A CA1136419A CA 1136419 A CA1136419 A CA 1136419A CA 000334455 A CA000334455 A CA 000334455A CA 334455 A CA334455 A CA 334455A CA 1136419 A CA1136419 A CA 1136419A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
booster
cap
density
sensitive
cast
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
Application number
CA000334455A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph A.R. Cloutier
Anthony C.F. Edmonds
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc
Original Assignee
Joseph A.R. Cloutier
Anthony C.F. Edmonds
Canadian Industries Limited
C-I-L Inc.
Ici Canada Inc.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Joseph A.R. Cloutier, Anthony C.F. Edmonds, Canadian Industries Limited, C-I-L Inc., Ici Canada Inc. filed Critical Joseph A.R. Cloutier
Priority to CA000334455A priority Critical patent/CA1136419A/en
Priority to AU60701/80A priority patent/AU532430B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1136419A publication Critical patent/CA1136419A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An explosive booster is provided for the detonation of insensitive blasting agents. The booster contains TNT as the sole explosive ingredient, is sensitive to blasting cap initiation yet remains insensitive to impact initiation. The booster comprises an elongate structure having a gradually increasing density from end to end, only the less dense end being cap sensitive. Reduced density is accomplished by the incorporation of voids or pockets, by means of, for example, glass microspheres. Particulate sodium nitrate and vermiculite are included as density enhancers.

Description

`- 113~;41~ :

This invention relates to an explosive booster used for the detonation of explosive compositions which are insensi-tive to detonation by ordinary blasting caps. Typical of such cap-insensitive explosives are, for example, ammonium nitrate/
fuel oil (ANFO) mixtures and aqueous slurry blasting agents.
A large variety of booster types are known in the ~ -explosives art. Most boosters employed with cap-insensitive blasting agents comprise a cast or pressed cap-sensitive high -~
explosive charge usually having a recess or well adapted to receive a blasting cap or other initiator such as a length of detonating cord. Sometimes such cast or pressed boosters com-prise a core of explosive which is sensitive to detonating cord or cap initiation, which core is itself surrounded by a sheath of non-cap-sensitive explosive. Such a core-and-sheath booster is disclosed, for example, in United States patent No. 3,037,452.
Other typical cast or pressed boosters are disclosed in United --States patent Nos. 3,037,453, 3,341,382, 3,371,606, 3,491,688, ;
3,437,038, 3,359,902, 3,604,353, 3,604,354 and 4,009,060. In .
general, all of the aforedisclosed boosters are water-resistant and are generally insensitive to initiation from impact. They are, however, not without some limitations and disadvantages.
In substantially all cases the explosive of choice ~or cast and pressed boosters is trinitrotoluene (TNT) because of its relatively cheap cost and ready availability. However, since TNT ls, except under unusual conditions, insensitive to blasting cap or detonating cord initiation, it has been neces-sary to combine with the TNT an amount of another cap-sensitive explosive in order to insure initiation of the TNT. This . ,,~ .
;~ combination may be in the nature of a sensitive core material . . .
~ 30 surrounded by the TNT sheath or it may be made by placing ~;
~. -- 1 -- t ` `` 1136419 sensitive explosive in side-by-side abutment with the TNT.
Alternatively the TNT may be made more sensitive by mixing a sensitive material with the TNT to form a cap-sensitive com-bination. Typical of the cap-sensitive materials which may be , combined or mixed with TNT are, for example, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and cyclonite (RDX).
~ ~ It will be obvious that the manufacture of two-;?: component boosters, of say, a PETN core surrounded by a TNT
sheath, will be substantially more costly than a single cast ; 10 or single press booster of, say, TNT alone. Not only does the two~component booster require additional manufacturing steps but also the cost of the cap-sensitive ingredient, for example, PETN, is substantially greater than the cost of an equ valent volume of TNT. In addition, because of the presence of cap-~ sensitive PETN or the like, the manufacture and the use of the -¦ multi-component booster carries with it an additional risk or hazard factor.
~ .
A method has now been found for manufacturing a cast ~- booster comprising TNT alone as the only self-explosive material which booster is sensitive to blasting cap and detonating cord initiation, is insensitive to accidental initiation by impact and is cheap to manufacture.
It has been surprisingly discovered that by control-ling or maintaining the density of cast TNT to a value not ~- greater than 1 Mg/m by the inclusion therein of discrete voids or gaseous pockets, a booster charge may be provided which is sensitive to blasting cap initiation~ It has been noted, how-ever, that the detonation wave generated by the initiation of low density TNT of 1 Mg/m3 or less is of a low intensity and is not adequate for the initiation of regular or normal density
- 2 -^~-" 1136419 cast TNT in contact with it or for the initiation of an adjacent insensitive blasting agent. It is postulated that the density difference at the interface between the low density TNT and an adjacent insensitive explosive, creates an impedance discontinu-ity which tends to reflect away a substantial amount of the energy of the detonation wave generated by the low density TNT
thus preventing boostering. To overcome this difficulty, the booster of the present invention comprises an elongated TNT
casting of gradually increasing density from end to end. The means by which the gradually increasing density may be conveni-ently created during the period of solidification and cooling of the casting of the void-containing TNT is by the incorpora-tion in the molten TNT of particulate sodium nitrate and particulate ~, expanded vermiculite and gas bubbles. The booster of the invention i~ is preferably adapted for the convenient attachment or insertion ,~ ~ of the initiating cap or detonating cord against or within the most sensitive low density portion of the casting. The addition "~ of particulate sodium nitrate, preferably having a grit size of - less than 20 mesh-Tyler and in an amount of up to 20~ by weight of the total booster, provides for an increase in the overall density of the cast booster without reducing its sensitivity or its energy output.
From computed values of detonation pressure obtained from TNT containing up to 20% by weight of particulate sodium nitrate, it can be observed that no substantial reduction in detonation pressure takes place from that observed with unadul-terated TNT. It is, therefore, possible to prepare practical and useful primers of the type described herein without the need of any separately cast TNT portion. The addition of , 30 particulate expanded vermiculite (filter grade) to a castable ~: ' ~ , ' ~" 11364~9 TNT/sodium nitrate mixture tends to slow the settling of the sodium nitrate and any solid void-containing material during the period of cooling and solidification of the TNT blend.
The incorporation of the discrete voids within the TNT casting is most easily accomplished by adding to the molten TNT sufficient glass microspheres to achieve the desired low density and the resulting sensitization. Such glass micro-spheres, especially in the presence of particulate expanded vermiculite, tend to settle only very slowly as the TNT soli-difies thus producing a gradual decreasing density from top to bottom in the final cast product. Discrete voids may also be incorporated in the TNT casting by the mechanical "whipping-in"
of air or by the addition of particulate gas-generating materials such as, for example, sodium borohydride. While the addition " ~
of whipped-in air or the generation of gas in situ have the ~
,~ obvious advantage of economy over the use of glass microspheres, ~ -t will be appreciated that difficulties may be encountered in providing a controlled distribution and sizing of whipped-in , ~
or generated gas bubbles.
A further aspect of the present invention provides for a combination booster comprising a mixture of TNT and one .:
other cap-sensitive solid castable explosive wherein the quantity of the cap-sensitive castable explosive can be substantially reduced by the incorporation in the mixture of discrete voids.
~ .
The following examples taken in conjunction with the ~' attached drawings which show in Fig. l a solid cast TNT primer , j!
of the invention and in Fig. 2 a TNT cast primer of the invention having an axial tunnel or cap well, illustrate the invention.
~- The percentage of each constituent is expressed by weight of dry material.

,~ ,' .

' 1136419 i ~ Example 1 ,~
'Y
~` With particular reference to Fig. 1, into a two inch '~ diameter x five and one-half inch long paper or plastic cyclin- -der 1 was poured a three inch column of full density TNT 2 which was allowed to solidify but was maintained at a temperature of 75C. The remaining space 3 in the cylinder was filled with a , mixture of TNT (77%), glass microspheres (3.8%), filter grade expanded vermiculite (3.8%) and particulate (passing 20 mesh) sodium nitrate (15.4%). The initial pouring temperature of the mixture was from 85-97C. A length of reinforced detonating cord 4, containing 10 g~m of PETN was set in place at the upper ;;".;
surface of the molten mixture in space 3 and the entire casting was allowed to cool and solidify by natural convection in air at 20-25C. , , ` On initiation of the detonating cord 4 by means of an electric blasting cap,~the whole assembly detonated. From chronometer readings it was evident that the full density por-tion of the TNT was detonated at its normal high velocity.
Further evidence of complete detonation was obtained through obser-vation of a normal size o crater formed in a mild steel plate placed under the booster. A similar cylindrical casting of TN~
devoid of glass microspheres, vermiculite and sodium nitrate failed to initiate in contact with 10 g/m detonating cord.
Example 2 With partiaular reference to Fig. 2, a cardboard cylinder 10, two inches in diameter x seven inches long and containing a removable central coaxial pin of about five-sixteenths inch diameter (not shown) was filled in three stages.
,A base portion comprising a two and one-half inch column of ; 30 unadulterated full density TNT was cast. On top of this, a ,' .-.~
., ~, ~:

three inch columni 12 of gradually increasing density TNT was ,,;~ cast with the greater density portion in contact with the ,' previously cast unadulterated ~NT. The gradually increasing ,' density TNT, which tends towards segregation upon cooling, was ~' comprised of the same mixture as described in Example 1. On top of this segregating portion was cast a one and one-half inch column 13 of TNT containing 10.5% by weight of glass micro-spheres of grade C15/250 manufactured by 3M. Cooling of the '~ upper TNT/microspheres portion was effected quickly to prevent segregation and to maintain a constant low density throughout.
After cooling, the coaxial pin was removed and the booster was ~-~ detonated by means of an electric blasting cap 14 placed within .~ .
the co-axial channel or tunnel 15 and close to the interface ~ .
of the low density andi the increasing density portions of the casting. On detonation upon a one inch thick mild steel plate a crater was produced indicating complete detonation at high ' ` velocity. A booster of similar dimensions but co~prised of ~ !
~;~ ,unadulterated TNT could not be~initiated with a similar electric blasting cap.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that '- graduated density initiator charges of the type described in ~ .
the present invention can be prepared from any castable explo-~i ~, sive mixture. W~hile no particular advantage will accr~e in ' the use of castable explosive material in a cap sensitive range at natural full density (e.g. composition B or Pentolite), the use of voids introduced in the manner described herein will ' allow reductions in the quantity of sensitive component employed and thus in cost of booster.
~," ' , . ' .
t , ' l~r ~ ~ A1 ~ 6 .1 ~
r , ji .

Claims (11)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cast booster for detonating insensitive blasting charges and containing trinitrotoluene as the sole explosive ingredient, which booster is sensitive to initiation by blasting cap, the said booster comprising an elongate structure of solidified trinitrotoluene having a cap-insensitive dense end portion and an opposite cap-sensitive less dense end portion, the density of the trinitrotoluene at the less dense end being not greater than one megagram per cubic meter and the density throughout the elongate structure having a gradually increasing value from the less dense cap-sensitive end to the dense cap-insensitive end.
2. An elongate cast booster as claimed in Claim 1 having gaseous pockets dispersed substantially from end to end therethrough as a means of providing the said gradually increas-ing density.
3. A cast booster as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the said gaseous pockets comprise glass microspheres.
4. A cast booster as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the said gaseous pockets comprise bubbles of occluded gas.
5. A cast booster as claimed in Claim 1 also con-taining minor amounts of a density enhancing material comprising a mixture of particulate sodium nitrate and particulate expanded vermiculite.
6. A cast booster as claimed in Claim 1 also contain-ing an amount of a cap-sensitive castable explosive.
7. A cast booster as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the particulate sodium nitrate has a grain size of less than 20 mesh-Tyler.
8. A cast booster as claimed in Claim 1 having an aperture therein to accommodate a blasting cap.
9. A method of preparing a booster for detonating insensitive blasting charges and containing trinitrotoluene as the sole explosive ingredient comprising the steps of:
a. melting trinitrotoluene, b. incorporating in said melted trinitrotoluene sufficient discrete gaseous voids or pockets so as to reduce the density of said melt, c. cooling and solidifying the melt in an elongate mold in such a manner that the said gaseous voids are distributed throughout the elongate structure so as to provide a gradually increasing density from end to end.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the said discrete voids are provided by inclusion in the melt of glass microspheres.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein a minor amount of a mixture of particulate sodium nitrate and particulate expanded vermiculite is added to the melt as a density enhancing material.
CA000334455A 1979-08-23 1979-08-23 Explosive booster Expired CA1136419A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000334455A CA1136419A (en) 1979-08-23 1979-08-23 Explosive booster
AU60701/80A AU532430B2 (en) 1979-08-23 1980-07-23 Explosive booster

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000334455A CA1136419A (en) 1979-08-23 1979-08-23 Explosive booster

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1136419A true CA1136419A (en) 1982-11-30

Family

ID=4115004

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000334455A Expired CA1136419A (en) 1979-08-23 1979-08-23 Explosive booster

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU532430B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1136419A (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6070180A (en) 1981-02-26
AU532430B2 (en) 1983-09-29

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