Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Malcolm D Harding

Geoffrey F Brent

Anthony J Rowe

Michael W Beck

A shock tube initiator comprises a core charge having an oxidizer-rich fuel-oxidizer mixed particle system the mixed particle system containing co-mingled particles of finely comminuted organic dyestuff of the phthalocyanine family or a similarly thermally-stable organic dyestuff in sufficient quantity to impart a distinct color to the charge, the dyestuff being a material which does not decompose below 250.degree. C.

Shock tube initiator with phthalocyanine color indicator

A shock tube initiator comprises a plastics tubing having an unobstructed axial bore, said tubing having throughout its length an inner surface, and unconsolidated reactive materials provided upon said surface as a loosely adherent dusting of shock-dislodgeable particles at a core loading sufficiently low to avoid rupture of the tubing in use, wherein said reactive materials comprise fuel particles selected from the group consisting of metals, quasi-metals and non-metallic fuels, and, as oxidant, at least about 20% (by weight) of ammonium perchlorate, preferably up to about 99% (by weight) ammonium perchlorate.

Shock tube initiator

A shock tube initiator comprises a plastics tubing having an unobstructed axial bore, said tubing having throughout its length an inner surface upon which unconsolidated reactive materials are provided as a loosely adherent dusting of shock-dislodgeable particles at a core loading sufficiently low to avoid rupture of the tubing in use, wherein said reactive materials comprise flake metallic fuel particles having a surface colouring layer of pigment, e.g. Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 whereby on firing of the core charge the residue is visibly of a different colour, hue, or shade.

In the field of blasting, an improvement in means for transmitting an initiating signal (non-electrically) to an explosive device to remotely detonate same in accordance with a predetermined delay period of the type which comprises tubing in which there is provided a reactive chemical composition containing at least one fuel component and at least one oxidant in intimate admixture that is capable of propagating a combustion signal from one end of said tubing to the other, the improvement consisting in the use of barium peroxide (BaO.sub.2) as the oxidant.

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Irvine, United Kingdom

Malcolm D Harding