GB1166405A - Water-Bearing Explosives - Google Patents

Abstract

1,166,405. Gel polymerization; explosives. E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO. 27 Nov., 1967, No. 53944/67. Addition to 1,156,703. Heading C3P. [Also in Division C1] An explosive composition comprises a fuel, water, and an inorganic oxidizing salt, the aqueous phase being thickened by the in situ polymerization of (a) from 0.3 to 10% by weight, based on the aqueous phase, of (1) a monomer having the formula wherein R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having up to four carbon atoms, and X is -COOH, -CONH 2 , or -COOM, where M is alkali metal or ammonium, and/or (2) a soluble salt of a monovinyl pyridine; and (b) from 1 to 30%, based on the weight of (a), of a polyethylenically unsaturated monomer polymerizable with (a) and having at least two terminal methylene groups. Monomer (b) may have the formula [A] n Y wherein A is Y is a bridging radical to which the A's are bonded by oxygen or nitrogen, and n is 2, 3 or 4. A free-radical polymerization promoter or initiator may be present, e.g. a salt of an inorganic peracid, an organic peroxide or azo compound, or a redox couple; a source of Group IB metal ions may also be added. The oxidizing salt may be ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal nitrate, chromate, dichromate, chlorate, perchlorate, or mixtures thereof. Many examples of suitable monomers and oxidizing salts are specified. Methanol, formamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, or methyl "Cellosolve" (Registered Trade Mark) may be added as an anti-freezing agent. Self-explosive fuels which may be present are TNT, PETN, tetryl, RDX, HMX, nitrostarch, nitrocellulose, smokeless powder, and mixtures thereof. Suitable non-explosive fuels are dinitrotoluene, sulphur, finely-divided coal and carbon, starch, ivory nut meal, wood and paper pulp, sugar, bagasse, paraffin wax, fuel oil, fatty and vegetable oils; metallic fuels such as Al, Mg, Zn, B, Si, ferrosilicon, and ferrophosphorus may be coated with a fatty acid or oil. In examples the oxidizing salt is ammonium, sodium, or calcium nitrate; monomer (a) is acrylamide, acrylic acid, ammonium acrylate, a-hydroxymethylacrylamide, or 4-vinyl pyridine nitrate; monomer (b) is N,N<SP>1</SP>.methylenebisacrylamide, N,N<SP>1</SP>- trimethylenebisacrylamide, hexamethylenebisacrylamide, allyl acrylate, allyl methacrylamide, diallyl ether of pentaerythritol, diallylamine nitrate, N,N<SP>1</SP>-diallyl adipamide, N-allylacrylamide, triacrylhexahydrotriazine, vinyl methacrylate, trimethylol propane trimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, divinyl adipate, divinyl succinate, and divinyl maleate; promoters used are ammonium persulphate, hydrogen peroxide, tert.-butyl hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, methylethyl ketone peroxide, and azobis (butyronitrile); other ingredients are TNT, aluminium, and coal.