GB586224A - Improvements in or relating to gelatine blasting explosive compositions containing water soluble salts - Google Patents

Abstract

586,224. Explosives. FORDHAM, S., MOILLIET, J. L., and IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, Ltd. Oct. 25, 1944, No. 20723. [Class 9 (ii)] To improve the plasticity of blasting explosives comprising a preponderating proportion of freely water-soluble salts and a less proportion of nitrocellulose jelly in a solvent comprising at least one explosive liquid nitric ester, the salts are incorporated in the solvent in the presence of free moisture and of at least one compound of polyethylene glycol ether structure having in its molecule at least eight carbon atoms joined together and at least two ethenoxy groups joined together. The ethenoxy chain may terminate in a free hydroxyl group on an esterified, etherified hydroxyl or a methoxyl group. The amount of these compounds in the explosive is 02 per cent to 0.5 per cent and they are introduced with the salt into the nitrocellulose solution or before, during or after gelatinisation of the nitrocellulose. Examples of these compounds used are monocetyl ether, monobetanaphthyl ether, monoethers of oleo ethanolamide, and monododecyl ether. Mixtures of these compounds may be used in which the average number of ethenoxy groups per molecule varies between 3 and 17. This compound also assists emulsification of the salt in the nitric ester. Other ingredients in the examples given are 22-30 per cent nitroglycerine, 0.8 per cent blasting soluble nitrocellulose, 4 per cent wood meal, 40. 8-44.8 per cent ammonium nitrate, 24 per cent sodium nitrate. Two further examples are given having 22 and 27.2 per cent nitroglycerinenitroglycol mixture, 0.7 per cent nitrocellulose and 33. 3 per cent oak husk meal, 22.4 per cent sodium chloride, 44 and 49 per cent ammonium nitrate and 2.4 per cent china clay. Specification 460,576 and U.S.A. Specification 1,966,090 are referred to.