US3333998A - Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar - Google Patents
Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3333998A US3333998A US473509A US47350965A US3333998A US 3333998 A US3333998 A US 3333998A US 473509 A US473509 A US 473509A US 47350965 A US47350965 A US 47350965A US 3333998 A US3333998 A US 3333998A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- percent
- sugar
- aluminum
- guar gum
- composition
- 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 - Lifetime
Links
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 30
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 30
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title description 38
- 235000000346 sugar Nutrition 0.000 title description 20
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 title description 9
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920002907 Guar gum Polymers 0.000 description 18
- 239000000665 guar gum Substances 0.000 description 18
- 229960002154 guar gum Drugs 0.000 description 18
- 235000010417 guar gum Nutrition 0.000 description 18
- 238000005474 detonation Methods 0.000 description 14
- 235000013379 molasses Nutrition 0.000 description 12
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000002562 thickening agent Substances 0.000 description 10
- 229930006000 Sucrose Natural products 0.000 description 9
- PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(3-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)acetic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC1=CC=CC(Br)=C1F PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 230000036571 hydration Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000006703 hydration reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium nitrate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 229960004793 sucrose Drugs 0.000 description 8
- CZMRCDWAGMRECN-UGDNZRGBSA-N Sucrose Chemical compound O[C@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@@]1(CO)O[C@@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O1 CZMRCDWAGMRECN-UGDNZRGBSA-N 0.000 description 7
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- TZRXHJWUDPFEEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate Chemical compound [O-][N+](=O)OCC(CO[N+]([O-])=O)(CO[N+]([O-])=O)CO[N+]([O-])=O TZRXHJWUDPFEEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000005720 sucrose Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000001879 gelation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000004132 cross linking Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 4
- 235000010344 sodium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000004317 sodium nitrate Substances 0.000 description 4
- XTFIVUDBNACUBN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane Chemical compound [O-][N+](=O)N1CN([N+]([O-])=O)CN([N+]([O-])=O)C1 XTFIVUDBNACUBN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- HZTVIZREFBBQMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene;[3-nitrooxy-2,2-bis(nitrooxymethyl)propyl] nitrate Chemical compound CC1=C([N+]([O-])=O)C=C([N+]([O-])=O)C=C1[N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+](=O)OCC(CO[N+]([O-])=O)(CO[N+]([O-])=O)CO[N+]([O-])=O HZTVIZREFBBQMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- -1 disaccharide carbohydrates Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000008163 sugars Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910001963 alkali metal nitrate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008719 thickening Effects 0.000 description 2
- OWEGMIWEEQEYGQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 100676-05-9 Natural products OC1C(O)C(O)C(CO)OC1OCC1C(O)C(O)C(O)C(OC2C(OC(O)C(O)C2O)CO)O1 OWEGMIWEEQEYGQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-XLOQQCSPSA-N Alpha-Lactose Chemical compound O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@H]1O[C@@H]1[C@@H](CO)O[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-XLOQQCSPSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241001149924 Alpheus Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000335053 Beta vulgaris Species 0.000 description 1
- 244000303965 Cyamopsis psoralioides Species 0.000 description 1
- RFSUNEUAIZKAJO-ARQDHWQXSA-N Fructose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@](O)(CO)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O RFSUNEUAIZKAJO-ARQDHWQXSA-N 0.000 description 1
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N Glucose Natural products OC[C@H]1OC(O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-QKKXKWKRSA-N Lactose Natural products OC[C@H]1O[C@@H](O[C@H]2[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C(O)O[C@@H]2CO)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H]1O GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-QKKXKWKRSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-PICCSMPSSA-N Maltose Natural products O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@@H]1O[C@@H]1[C@@H](CO)OC(O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-PICCSMPSSA-N 0.000 description 1
- AGUIVNYEYSCPNI-UHFFFAOYSA-N N-methyl-N-picrylnitramine Chemical group [O-][N+](=O)N(C)C1=C([N+]([O-])=O)C=C([N+]([O-])=O)C=C1[N+]([O-])=O AGUIVNYEYSCPNI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000026 Pentaerythritol tetranitrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- CZMRCDWAGMRECN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Rohrzucker Natural products OCC1OC(CO)(OC2OC(CO)C(O)C(O)C2O)C(O)C1O CZMRCDWAGMRECN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 240000000111 Saccharum officinarum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000007201 Saccharum officinarum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000021536 Sugar beet Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- DPXJVFZANSGRMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N acetic acid;2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanal;sodium Chemical compound [Na].CC(O)=O.OCC(O)C(O)C(O)C(O)C=O DPXJVFZANSGRMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- PYMYPHUHKUWMLA-VPENINKCSA-N aldehydo-D-xylose Chemical compound OC[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C=O PYMYPHUHKUWMLA-VPENINKCSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910001964 alkaline earth metal nitrate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-VFUOTHLCSA-N beta-D-glucose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-VFUOTHLCSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-QUYVBRFLSA-N beta-maltose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@H](O[C@H]2[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)O[C@@H]2CO)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-QUYVBRFLSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229940077731 carbohydrate nutrients Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000014633 carbohydrates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001768 carboxy methyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003431 cross linking reagent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008121 dextrose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960002737 fructose Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229960001031 glucose Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000005764 inhibitory process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BJHIKXHVCXFQLS-UYFOZJQFSA-N keto-D-fructose Chemical compound OC[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)C(=O)CO BJHIKXHVCXFQLS-UYFOZJQFSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000008101 lactose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000609 methyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000001923 methylcellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010981 methylcellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000007524 organic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000005985 organic acids Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960004321 pentaerithrityl tetranitrate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000019812 sodium carboxymethyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920001027 sodium carboxymethylcellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- BAZAXWOYCMUHIX-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium perchlorate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O BAZAXWOYCMUHIX-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 229910001488 sodium perchlorate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000000185 sucrose group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000011782 vitamin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940088594 vitamin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229930003231 vitamin Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 235000013343 vitamin Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
- C06B47/00—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase
- C06B47/14—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase comprising a solid component and an aqueous phase
Definitions
- This invention relates to aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt type slurry blasting compositions of the nitrocarbonitrate type containing a combination of aluminum and a sugar as the sensitizer component.
- Inorganic oxidizer salt blasting compositions of the aqueous slurry type have had wide use in the explosives industry in recent years. However, it has been necessary that these compositions, in order to be detonatable by a conventional booster charge, contain smokeless powder or a high explosive such as TNT, PETN or the like as the sensitizer except that in a number of instances, large amounts of finely divided metals such as particulate aluminum have been utilized for that purpose.
- smokeless powder and high explosives in these slurry compositions has been disadvantageous particularly from the standpoint of manufacturing hazards involving handling of these highly sensitive materials, and the use of large amounts of finely divided metals has been economically unfeasible.
- This invention is concerned with aqueous aluminumsensitized blasting compositions of the inorganic oxidizer salt type, free from sensitizers of the high explosive and smokeless powder type, containing smaller amounts of aluminum than required heretofore, and characterized by improved detonation rates.
- aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt slurry type blasting compositions which contain, on a weight basis, a combination of from to 20 percent aluminum with from 1 to 25 percent of a sugar, as the sensitizer component, the said aluminum being in flaked form in an amount of at least 5 percent based on the total slurry composition.
- the slurry compositions generally contain from 30- to 75 percent of an inorganic oxidizer salt, from 8 to 25 percent water, the above described sensitizer component,,and a thickener, usually in amount of from 0.2 to 5 percent.
- the oxidizer salt component is either ammonium nitrate alone or together with sodium nitrate in a weight ratio to the sodium nitrate as low as about 0.5 :1, generally within the range of from about 2:1 to 4:1, and the thickener is guar gum in crosslinked (or gelled) form.
- the now preferred compositions of the invention contain (weight basis) from 6 to 15 percent and 3 to 10 percent of the aluminum and sugar ingredients respectively, as the sensitizer component; from 12 to 18 percent water; from 40 to 70 percent ammonium nitrate and from 5 to 30 percent sodium nitrate, as the oxidizer salt component; and from 0.2 to 2 percent guar gum.
- inorganic oxidizer salt as is well known in the explosives art, is meant one which under the conditions of the detonation, liberates oxygen for the oxygen balance required.
- Ammonium nitrate is in many instances the only inorganic oxidizer salt component. However, other inorganic oxidizer salts can be used, alone or with ammonium nitrate as a supplementary oxidizer salt. Of these supple- V mentary salts, the alkali metal nitrates are now preferred.
- ammonium nitrate when utilized with a supplementary salt, it comprises a major proportion of the total oxidizer salt, i.e., at least 50 percent of the total oxidizer salt.
- exemplary inorganic oxidizer salts that can alkali metal and alkaline earth metal nitrates and perchlo- 3,333,998 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 salt ingredients are generally of comparable particle size.
- a sugar as a sensitizer ingredient, it is meant any one or a mixture of those members of the class of monosacchan'de and disaccharide carbohydrates.
- exemplary sugars are molasses, d-xylose, dglucose, d-monose, d-fructose, l-sarbose, sucrose, lactose and maltose.
- Sucrose as ordinary table grade cane or beet sugar, and molasses, are now preferred.
- molasses it is meant the dark-colored syrupy residue from the extraction of crystallizable sugar from sugar cane and beets.
- the molasses composition varies greatly but is often in the order of about percent solids, of which 50 to 60' percent are sugars, e.g., sucrose, dextrose and levulose.
- An exemplary molasses is cane blackstrap molasses having a total solids content of 76 percent, total sugars, 50' to 54 percent and minerals, 8 to 10 percent with a minor content of available protein, soluble gums, organic acids, and vitamins, constituting the remaining solids.
- the aluminum component is in flaked form in a proportion equal at least to 5 percent of the finished composition.
- the slurry composition is so insensitive as to be nondetonatable by conventional booster systems, e.g., by a 500 gram booster charge of PETN.
- the flakes of the aluminum ingredient generally have a thickness less than about 0.002" and a diameter (or maximum cross-sectional dimension) in the range of from somewhat less than 0.0098 to 0.0232", chopped aluminum foil being particularly well suited.
- the thickener content can be as high as 5 percent dependent upon the particular thickener and the desired consistency of the finished composition. Generally, a thickener content up to about 2 percent is suflicient. When the thickener content is within the range of 0.2 to 0.5 weight percent, there is sufiicient thickening to prevent settling of the composition ingredients, although additional thickener is often required in order to impart a satisfactory degree of cohesiveness so that the composition retains its form as a unit mass, preferably plastic but deformable.
- Exemplary thickeners are sodium carboxymethylcellulose, mannogalactans, e.g., guar gum, methyl cellulose, water-soluble starches, and the like.
- the thickener is guar gum in cross-linked form
- the guar content is most advantageously within the range of from 0.5 to 1.5 percent, under which conditions the finished composition is a plastic, rubbery, but deformable, mass.
- compositions of the invention are in most instances insensitive to detonating action of a No. 8 commercial blasting cap but are, in all events, detonatable by conventional booster charges of PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine), Pentolite (PETN-TNT, 50/50), tetryl, Composition B (RDX-TNT, 60/40) and the like.
- PETN penentaerythritol tetranitrate
- RDX cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine
- Pentolite PETN-TNT, 50/50
- tetryl Composition B
- Composition B Composition B
- One booster advantageously employed is a dispersion of a crystalline high explosive, e.g., PETN or RDX in a plastic carrier such as described in US. 2,965,456, is-
- the explosive compositions of the invention are of the well known class of nitrocarbonitrates, by which term it is meant there are no sensitizers which in themselves are high explosives, and the mixtures will not detonate with a No. 8 blasting cap when packed for shipment.
- the invention is illustrated with reference to the following formulations, all on a weight percent basis.
- Example 4 further demonstrates the effect of the presence of percent molasses with 5 percent flake aluminum, i.e., it provides a detonation rate of 3350 m./sec. (475 gram booster) which, except for the molasses present, would be markedly lower than that detonation rate of Example 2.
- Example 4 also demon- Example No.
- Example 2 strates a marked improvement in sensitivity over Example 2, as shown by the detonation in response to an 80 gram booster whereas under the same firing conditions, Example 2 shows a failure.
- Examples 5-7 demonstrate inoperability of molasses alone, thereby demonstrating in conjunction with Exampies 1-4, the uniqueness of a sugar, when in combination with aluminum, as the sensitizer component.
- Examples 8-10 demonstrate flaked aluminum to be operable. It is often advantageous, however, to include a portion of granular aluminum in the aluminum ingredithe same as that of the composition of Example 1, con- 75 ent of the sensitizer component, as for example, when it is desired to maintain the energy level for a given composition while at the same time, it is desired to decrease sensitivity by reduction of the flake aluminum content.
- Examples 11-17 demonstrate the role of Sucrose in form of ordinary table grade cane sugar as a sensitizer ingredient in the practice of the invention. As shown, at constant aluminum content in the absence of the sugar ingredient, a detonation rate of 2200 m./ sec. was obtained whereas at progressively increased sugar content levels up to 5 percent, there was a corresponding increase in detonation rate. These examples also demonstrate that there are optimum proportions of sugar ingredient dependent upon the particular formulation, about 5 percent in those shown.
- Examples 18-20 demonstrate granular aluminum as an ingredient of the aluminum component.
- Example 21 demonstrates a combination of ammonium nitrate and sodium perchlorate as the oxidizer salt component.
- the sugar and water components are admixed, and a small proportion of each of the total oxidizer salt and guar gum components is added to the resulting admixture, the guar gum being in natural form inan amount often in the order of about 0.2 percent based on the finished composition.
- hydration of the natural guar gum is immediately initiated.
- the resulting admixture is maintained, under agitation, at a temperature in the order of say, 80100 F. for a period of from 5-10 minutes, and then, due to completion of hydration, has a sufiiciently high viscosity to prevent settling of all ingredients.
- the aluminum, together with the remaining proportion of oxidizer salt is then added over a several minute period, with continued agitation, followed by addition of the remaining portion of the guar gum, the latter being in inhibited form, i.e., containing an agent causing a delay in hydration that would otherwise take place immediately.
- the delay, or inhibition postpones hydration of the last added guar gum so as to permit time for packaging final product mixture while still easily flowa'ble, with final hydration and subsequent gelation (crosslinking) taking place during storage of the packaged composition.
- all guar gum is ultimately crosslinked to provide a rubbery, plastic but deformable mass.
- Somewhat less than complete crosslinking of the guar gum can be obtained when the natural guar gum is added in a proportion greater than that in inhibited form. Hydration with substantially no gelation can be obtained when only natural guar gum is added, and particularly at a pH below about 7. In all instances,
- hydration it is meant the reaction that takes place between the guar gum and water components to form a sol
- gelation or crosslinking
- crosslinking reaction it is meant the crosslinking reaction that takes place between the guar gum and the particular crosslinking agent therein to form a gel
- an inorganic oxidizer salt explosive of the aqueous slurry type comprising from 5 to 20 weight percent aluminum of which at least 5 percent, based on said slurry, is in flake form, in combination with from 1 to 25 weight percent of a sugar as the sensitizer component.
- a slurry type explosive of claim 1 containing, on a weight basis, from 8 to 25 percent water, 30 to 75 percent of an inorganic oxidizer salt, and from 0.2 to 5 percent of a thickener.
- a slurry type composition of claim 2 containing from 12 to 18 percent water, from 40 to percent ammonium nitrate, from 5 to 30 percent sodium nitrate, from 0.2 to 2 percent guar gum, from 6 to 15 percent aluminum and from 3 to 10 percent sugar.
- composition of claim 4 wherein said sugar is molasses.
- composition of claim 4 wherein said sugar is sucrose.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
Description
United States Patent 3,333,998 AQUEOUS BLASTING COMPOSITIONS CONTAIN- ING FLAKE ALUMINUM AND SUGAR John D. Ferguson, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Hercules Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed July 20, 1965, Ser. No. 473,509
7 Claims. (Cl. 149-21) This invention relates to aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt type slurry blasting compositions of the nitrocarbonitrate type containing a combination of aluminum and a sugar as the sensitizer component.
Inorganic oxidizer salt blasting compositions of the aqueous slurry type have had wide use in the explosives industry in recent years. However, it has been necessary that these compositions, in order to be detonatable by a conventional booster charge, contain smokeless powder or a high explosive such as TNT, PETN or the like as the sensitizer except that in a number of instances, large amounts of finely divided metals such as particulate aluminum have been utilized for that purpose. The use of smokeless powder and high explosives in these slurry compositions has been disadvantageous particularly from the standpoint of manufacturing hazards involving handling of these highly sensitive materials, and the use of large amounts of finely divided metals has been economically unfeasible.
This invention is concerned with aqueous aluminumsensitized blasting compositions of the inorganic oxidizer salt type, free from sensitizers of the high explosive and smokeless powder type, containing smaller amounts of aluminum than required heretofore, and characterized by improved detonation rates.
In accordance with the invention, aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt slurry type blasting compositions are provided which contain, on a weight basis, a combination of from to 20 percent aluminum with from 1 to 25 percent of a sugar, as the sensitizer component, the said aluminum being in flaked form in an amount of at least 5 percent based on the total slurry composition. The slurry compositions generally contain from 30- to 75 percent of an inorganic oxidizer salt, from 8 to 25 percent water, the above described sensitizer component,,and a thickener, usually in amount of from 0.2 to 5 percent.
In preferred practice, the oxidizer salt component is either ammonium nitrate alone or together with sodium nitrate in a weight ratio to the sodium nitrate as low as about 0.5 :1, generally within the range of from about 2:1 to 4:1, and the thickener is guar gum in crosslinked (or gelled) form. The now preferred compositions of the invention contain (weight basis) from 6 to 15 percent and 3 to 10 percent of the aluminum and sugar ingredients respectively, as the sensitizer component; from 12 to 18 percent water; from 40 to 70 percent ammonium nitrate and from 5 to 30 percent sodium nitrate, as the oxidizer salt component; and from 0.2 to 2 percent guar gum.
By the term inorganic oxidizer salt, as is well known in the explosives art, is meant one which under the conditions of the detonation, liberates oxygen for the oxygen balance required.
Ammonium nitrate is in many instances the only inorganic oxidizer salt component. However, other inorganic oxidizer salts can be used, alone or with ammonium nitrate as a supplementary oxidizer salt. Of these supple- V mentary salts, the alkali metal nitrates are now preferred.
Often when ammonium nitrate is utilized with a supplementary salt, it comprises a major proportion of the total oxidizer salt, i.e., at least 50 percent of the total oxidizer salt. Exemplary inorganic oxidizer salts that can alkali metal and alkaline earth metal nitrates and perchlo- 3,333,998 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 salt ingredients are generally of comparable particle size.
When referring herein to a sugar as a sensitizer ingredient, it is meant any one or a mixture of those members of the class of monosacchan'de and disaccharide carbohydrates. Exemplary sugars are molasses, d-xylose, dglucose, d-monose, d-fructose, l-sarbose, sucrose, lactose and maltose. Sucrose, as ordinary table grade cane or beet sugar, and molasses, are now preferred.
By the term molasses it is meant the dark-colored syrupy residue from the extraction of crystallizable sugar from sugar cane and beets. The molasses composition varies greatly but is often in the order of about percent solids, of which 50 to 60' percent are sugars, e.g., sucrose, dextrose and levulose. An exemplary molasses is cane blackstrap molasses having a total solids content of 76 percent, total sugars, 50' to 54 percent and minerals, 8 to 10 percent with a minor content of available protein, soluble gums, organic acids, and vitamins, constituting the remaining solids.
The aluminum component is in flaked form in a proportion equal at least to 5 percent of the finished composition. When the proportion of flake aluminum is below the 5 percent level, the slurry composition is so insensitive as to be nondetonatable by conventional booster systems, e.g., by a 500 gram booster charge of PETN. The flakes of the aluminum ingredient generally have a thickness less than about 0.002" and a diameter (or maximum cross-sectional dimension) in the range of from somewhat less than 0.0098 to 0.0232", chopped aluminum foil being particularly well suited.
The thickener content can be as high as 5 percent dependent upon the particular thickener and the desired consistency of the finished composition. Generally, a thickener content up to about 2 percent is suflicient. When the thickener content is within the range of 0.2 to 0.5 weight percent, there is sufiicient thickening to prevent settling of the composition ingredients, although additional thickener is often required in order to impart a satisfactory degree of cohesiveness so that the composition retains its form as a unit mass, preferably plastic but deformable. Exemplary thickeners are sodium carboxymethylcellulose, mannogalactans, e.g., guar gum, methyl cellulose, water-soluble starches, and the like. When the thickener is guar gum in cross-linked form, in accordance with preferred practice, the guar content is most advantageously within the range of from 0.5 to 1.5 percent, under which conditions the finished composition is a plastic, rubbery, but deformable, mass.
The compositions of the invention are in most instances insensitive to detonating action of a No. 8 commercial blasting cap but are, in all events, detonatable by conventional booster charges of PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine), Pentolite (PETN-TNT, 50/50), tetryl, Composition B (RDX-TNT, 60/40) and the like. Temperature of the composition at the time of initiating detonation appears to effect sensitivity, the higher temperatures being often accompanied by a corresponding sensitivity increase. One booster advantageously employed is a dispersion of a crystalline high explosive, e.g., PETN or RDX in a plastic carrier such as described in US. 2,965,456, is-
sued Dec. 20, 1960 to Alpheus M. Ball, and which is detonated by either a commercial blasting cap or a detonating fuse. In general, these compositions are detonatable in response to any secondary explosive.
The explosive compositions of the invention are of the well known class of nitrocarbonitrates, by which term it is meant there are no sensitizers which in themselves are high explosives, and the mixtures will not detonate with a No. 8 blasting cap when packed for shipment.
The invention is illustrated with reference to the following formulations, all on a weight percent basis.
taining more aluminum; and by a higher detonation rate utilizing a 20 gram booster. These unexpected differences are directly attributable to the presence of the molasses in combination with the aluminum as the sensitizer component. Example 4 further demonstrates the effect of the presence of percent molasses with 5 percent flake aluminum, i.e., it provides a detonation rate of 3350 m./sec. (475 gram booster) which, except for the molasses present, would be markedly lower than that detonation rate of Example 2. Example 4 also demon- Example No.
Water 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16 0 10.0 5.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 Ammonium Nitrate 55.8 58.3 52. 5 54.0 55 0 55.0 61.9 54.0 54.0 54.0 Sodium Nitrate 15. 0 15. 0 18. 0 19.0 23 0 19. 0 7. 0 14.0 14. 0 14.0 Sugar 5 5. 0 5. 0 5 0 15.0 25.0 5.0 5. 0 5. 0 Aluminum:
Detonation Rate, m./sec.:
Detonator, Gramsz Density, gm. Flowability, seconds Water. 18. 0 18.0 Ammonium Nitrate 1 Sodium Nitrate Sodium Perchlorate Sugar 1. 5 Aluminum:
Flalra Granular 4 Do Do Guar Gum Detonation Rate, m./sec.: B
Detgnator, Grams:
5 Density, gms./cc 1.47 1. 47
1 Substantially all through -mesh screen and substantially all on 100- mesh screen.
1 Granular, varying from Fine to C(iarse".
3 Molasses, Runs 3-10; sucrose (ordinary table grade cane sugar), Runs 4 Substantially all through 200 mesh.
5 Substantially all through 12 mesh, on 40 mesh.
4 75 percent on 60 mesh, all on 200 mesh.
1 Hydrated only, Runs 1-3, 5-10; crosslinked, Runs 4, 11-17.
3 Measured as average detonation velocity over a 20 cm. length, at the end oi a 28" long column of explosive. The explosive is confined in a 5" x 28 black iron pipe (Schedule 40). The time for detonation to proceed across the 20 cm. length of explosive is measured electronically by means of a counter-chronograph.
9 Pentolite, TNT/PETN (1 :1); Temperature at which the detonation was initiated: Runs 1-15, 50F.; Runs 16, 17, F.; Runs16, 17 detonated at 60 F.; Runs 18,19, 76 F.; Run 20, 45 F; Run 21, 74 F.
10 Flow time determined by tunnel test in accordance with which approximately 5,000 grams of slurry is poured into an aluminum tunnel having a 1% diameter by 1" orifice. When the orifice is opened to permit flow, the timing is begun. When light is visible through the orifice (looking down into the funnel), timing is stopped. The time ditlerence is designated as the flow time.
strates a marked improvement in sensitivity over Example 2, as shown by the detonation in response to an 80 gram booster whereas under the same firing conditions, Example 2 shows a failure.
Examples 5-7 demonstrate inoperability of molasses alone, thereby demonstrating in conjunction with Exampies 1-4, the uniqueness of a sugar, when in combination with aluminum, as the sensitizer component.
Examples 8-10 demonstrate flaked aluminum to be operable. It is often advantageous, however, to include a portion of granular aluminum in the aluminum ingredithe same as that of the composition of Example 1, con- 75 ent of the sensitizer component, as for example, when it is desired to maintain the energy level for a given composition while at the same time, it is desired to decrease sensitivity by reduction of the flake aluminum content.
Examples 11-17 demonstrate the role of Sucrose in form of ordinary table grade cane sugar as a sensitizer ingredient in the practice of the invention. As shown, at constant aluminum content in the absence of the sugar ingredient, a detonation rate of 2200 m./ sec. was obtained whereas at progressively increased sugar content levels up to 5 percent, there was a corresponding increase in detonation rate. These examples also demonstrate that there are optimum proportions of sugar ingredient dependent upon the particular formulation, about 5 percent in those shown.
Examples 18-20 demonstrate granular aluminum as an ingredient of the aluminum component.
Example 21 demonstrates a combination of ammonium nitrate and sodium perchlorate as the oxidizer salt component.
In accordance with a now preferred process for the manufacture of slurry compositions of the invention, the sugar and water components are admixed, and a small proportion of each of the total oxidizer salt and guar gum components is added to the resulting admixture, the guar gum being in natural form inan amount often in the order of about 0.2 percent based on the finished composition. Under these conditions, hydration of the natural guar gum is immediately initiated. The resulting admixture is maintained, under agitation, at a temperature in the order of say, 80100 F. for a period of from 5-10 minutes, and then, due to completion of hydration, has a sufiiciently high viscosity to prevent settling of all ingredients. The aluminum, together with the remaining proportion of oxidizer salt is then added over a several minute period, with continued agitation, followed by addition of the remaining portion of the guar gum, the latter being in inhibited form, i.e., containing an agent causing a delay in hydration that would otherwise take place immediately. The delay, or inhibition, postpones hydration of the last added guar gum so as to permit time for packaging final product mixture while still easily flowa'ble, with final hydration and subsequent gelation (crosslinking) taking place during storage of the packaged composition.
In carrying out the process embodiment above described, and utilizing only a minor proportion of the guar gum ingredient in natural form, all guar gum is ultimately crosslinked to provide a rubbery, plastic but deformable mass. Somewhat less than complete crosslinking of the guar gum can be obtained when the natural guar gum is added in a proportion greater than that in inhibited form. Hydration with substantially no gelation can be obtained when only natural guar gum is added, and particularly at a pH below about 7. In all instances,
there is a thickening action whether it be the result of hydration alone or with some gelation, or substantially complete gelation.
When referring herein to hydration, it is meant the reaction that takes place between the guar gum and water components to form a sol, and when referring to gelation, or crosslinking, it is meant the crosslinking reaction that takes place between the guar gum and the particular crosslinking agent therein to form a gel.
As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications can be made or followed, in the light of the foregoing disclosure and discussion, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.
What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1s:
1. In an inorganic oxidizer salt explosive of the aqueous slurry type, the improvement comprising from 5 to 20 weight percent aluminum of which at least 5 percent, based on said slurry, is in flake form, in combination with from 1 to 25 weight percent of a sugar as the sensitizer component. 2. A slurry type explosive of claim 1 containing, on a weight basis, from 8 to 25 percent water, 30 to 75 percent of an inorganic oxidizer salt, and from 0.2 to 5 percent of a thickener.
3. A slurry type composition of claim 2 containing from 12 to 18 percent water, from 40 to percent ammonium nitrate, from 5 to 30 percent sodium nitrate, from 0.2 to 2 percent guar gum, from 6 to 15 percent aluminum and from 3 to 10 percent sugar.
4. A composition of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of said guar gum is in crosslinked form.
5. A composition of claim 4 wherein said sugar is molasses.
6. A composition of claim 4 wherein said sugar is sucrose.
7. A composition of claim 1 wherein all of said aluminum is in flaked form.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 268,518 12/ 1882 Mohrig 149-40 968,389 8/1910 McLaughlin 14942 991,057 5/1911 Griffing 14940 1,430,272 9/ 1922 Werner 14942 X 2,215,608 9/ 1940 Garcia 149-41 2,320,972 6/ 1943 Lindsley 14941 X 2,836,484 5/ 1958 Streng et al. 14942 CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner. BENJAMIN R. PADGETT, Examiner. S. J. LECHERT, JR., Assistant Examiner.
Claims (1)
1. IN AN INORGANIC OXIDIZER SALT EXPLOSIVE OF THE AQUEOUS SLURRY TYPE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING FROM 5 TO 20 WEIGHT PERCENT ALUMINUM OF WHICH AT LEAST 5 PERCENT, BASED ON SAID SLURRY, IS IN FLAKE FORM, IN COMBINATION WITH FROM 1 TO 2K WEIGHT PERCENT OF A SUGAR AS THE SENSITIZER COMPONENT.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US473509A US3333998A (en) | 1965-07-20 | 1965-07-20 | Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US473509A US3333998A (en) | 1965-07-20 | 1965-07-20 | Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3333998A true US3333998A (en) | 1967-08-01 |
Family
ID=23879828
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US473509A Expired - Lifetime US3333998A (en) | 1965-07-20 | 1965-07-20 | Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3333998A (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3475238A (en) * | 1968-02-08 | 1969-10-28 | Dow Chemical Co | Method for preparing gelled slurry explosive compositions containing distinct liquid and solid phases |
US4330346A (en) * | 1979-06-01 | 1982-05-18 | Dyno Industrier A.S. | Cap-sensitive powdered explosive composition |
US5465664A (en) * | 1993-05-03 | 1995-11-14 | Fey; Warren O. | Fuel and explosive composition with ferric or cupric ion and reducing sugars |
US7344610B2 (en) | 2003-01-28 | 2008-03-18 | Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. | Sulfur-free propellant compositions |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US268518A (en) * | 1882-12-05 | Explosive compound | ||
US968389A (en) * | 1909-10-06 | 1910-08-23 | Frederick E Whitney | Explosive. |
US991057A (en) * | 1910-12-06 | 1911-05-02 | Charles E Griffing | Explosive. |
US1430272A (en) * | 1921-11-15 | 1922-09-26 | Hoynesite Explosives Company | Explosive composition and the manufacture thereof |
US2215608A (en) * | 1938-01-22 | 1940-09-24 | Garcia Alvaro Hernandez | Explosive composition |
US2320972A (en) * | 1940-07-11 | 1943-06-01 | King Powder Company | Explosive composition |
US2836484A (en) * | 1955-05-04 | 1958-05-27 | Reynolds Metals Co | Aqueous metal powder explosive |
-
1965
- 1965-07-20 US US473509A patent/US3333998A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US268518A (en) * | 1882-12-05 | Explosive compound | ||
US968389A (en) * | 1909-10-06 | 1910-08-23 | Frederick E Whitney | Explosive. |
US991057A (en) * | 1910-12-06 | 1911-05-02 | Charles E Griffing | Explosive. |
US1430272A (en) * | 1921-11-15 | 1922-09-26 | Hoynesite Explosives Company | Explosive composition and the manufacture thereof |
US2215608A (en) * | 1938-01-22 | 1940-09-24 | Garcia Alvaro Hernandez | Explosive composition |
US2320972A (en) * | 1940-07-11 | 1943-06-01 | King Powder Company | Explosive composition |
US2836484A (en) * | 1955-05-04 | 1958-05-27 | Reynolds Metals Co | Aqueous metal powder explosive |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3475238A (en) * | 1968-02-08 | 1969-10-28 | Dow Chemical Co | Method for preparing gelled slurry explosive compositions containing distinct liquid and solid phases |
US4330346A (en) * | 1979-06-01 | 1982-05-18 | Dyno Industrier A.S. | Cap-sensitive powdered explosive composition |
US5465664A (en) * | 1993-05-03 | 1995-11-14 | Fey; Warren O. | Fuel and explosive composition with ferric or cupric ion and reducing sugars |
US7344610B2 (en) | 2003-01-28 | 2008-03-18 | Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. | Sulfur-free propellant compositions |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3356544A (en) | Inorganic oxidizer salt aqueous blasting compositions containing a nitroparaffin | |
US3465675A (en) | Process of blasting with thickened slurried inorganic oxidizer salt-alcohol water explosive mixtures | |
US3333998A (en) | Aqueous blasting compositions containing flake aluminum and sugar | |
US3445305A (en) | Gelation of galactomannan containing water-bearing explosives | |
US3235425A (en) | Slurry-type blasting compositions containing ammonium nitrate and smokeless powder | |
US3653992A (en) | Aqueous slurry salt type explosives containing nitrato-alkanol as sensitizer component and manufacture thereof | |
US3401067A (en) | Aqueous slurry type explosive compositions sensitized with at least one alkanolamine nitrate | |
US3318740A (en) | Aqueous slurry-type blasting compositions containing a hexamethylene-tetramine nitrate sensitizer | |
US3328217A (en) | Aqueous blasting compositions containining particulate smokeless powder and dinitrotoluene | |
US3331717A (en) | Inorganic oxidizer blasting slurry containing smokeless powder and aluminum | |
US3108917A (en) | Tnt-tetraborate gelled aqueous explosive slurry | |
US3419443A (en) | Hydrazine containing explosive compositions | |
US3574011A (en) | Aqueous slurried explosive of improved pourability containing a polyacrylamide thickener and sodium perchlorate | |
US3278350A (en) | Explosive-ammonium nitrate in phenol-aldehyde resin | |
GB1396458A (en) | Explosive compositions | |
US3668027A (en) | Method of making nitrocellulose-nitroglycerine water-bearing explosive compositions | |
US3409484A (en) | Thickened inorganic oxidizer salt slurried explosive containing an alkylamine nitrate and an air-entrapping material | |
US3356545A (en) | Aqueousslurry type nitrocarbonitrate blasting compositions containing flake aluminum-dinitro-toluene as the only sensitizer | |
US3350246A (en) | Aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt blasting compositions containing tamarind seed powder | |
IE33579B1 (en) | Explosive compositions | |
US3344005A (en) | Pentaerythritol tetranitrate-trimethylolethane trinitrate explosives | |
US3300348A (en) | Explosive conitrates and process for preparing the same | |
US3296042A (en) | Explosive containing oxidizing salt, organic nitro-compound, and hydrophilic colloid | |
US3235424A (en) | High density water-containing blasting materials containing ferrosilicon and ammonium nitrate | |
US3546034A (en) | Ammonium nitrate-nitromethane type blasting agent containing urea as a crystallization inhibitor |