IE32090L - Water-bearing explosives - Google Patents

Abstract

1,216,229. Explosive compositions. E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO. 31 May, 1968 [2 June, 1967; .25 Jan., 1968], No. 26233/68. Heading C1D. A slurry explosive composition comprises an oxidizing salt, a fuel and water, and includes a sensitizer of oxygen balance more positive than - 150% and comprising a salt formed from an inorganic oxidizing acid and an acyclic nitrogen base and/or a phenylic amine; the nitrogen base should have no more than 2 hydrogen atoms bonded to the or each basic nitrogen atom and up to 3 carbon atoms per basic nitrogen atom. Sensitizing salts specified are hydrazine nitrate, dinitrate and perchlorate, monomethylamine nitrate, chlorate and perchlorate, ethylenediamine dinitrate and diperchlorate, nitrates of dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, guanidine and urea, aniline nitrate, chlorate and perchlorate, p-chloroaniline nitrate, and phenylene diamine dinitrate; cyclohexylamine nitrate and diethylamine dinitrate may be used in mixture with other salts. The oxidizing salt may be ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal nitrate or perchlorate. Sulphur, carbon, vegetable products, Al, Al-Mg, Fe, ferrosilicon, ferrophosphorus, TNT, PETN, RDX, HMX, and smokeless powder may be present as fuels and auxiliary sensitizers. As a thickening agent, guar gum may be added, together with potassium dichromate and potassium antimony tartrate for cross-linking; polyacrylamide may also be included. The composition may also include a small amount of a fatty alcohol sulphate, many of which are specified, to improve sensitivity at low temperature. Other ingredients referred to are fluidizing agents and buffering agents, e.g. fumaric acid. In examples, the following ingredients are used in addition to those specified above: sodium nitrate, stearic acid, coal, formamide, refined mineral oil, bagasse pith, sodium lauryl sulphate, and phenolformaldehyde hollow particles to trap air bubbles. [GB1216229A]