Ici Australia Limited

Ici Australia Operations Proprietary Limited

Michael A Yabsley

Lindsay K Smith

Jill Hergt

Waclaw Skinder

Flavio Xantidis

Ken Mitchell

This invention provides an explosive composition comprising a blend of a melt-in-fuel emulsion and solid particulate oxygen-releasing salt. Said melt-in-fuel emulsion comprises a discontinuous oxygen-releasing salt phase, a continuous water-immiscible organic fuel phase and an emulsifier component. The oxygen-releasing salt is preferably selected such that the water content is minimized. The explosive composition may additionally comprise a discontinuous gaseous component. The compositions are stable against crystallization and segregation and are blowloadable without significant blowback. The compositions have an added advantage of a propensity to be loaded into upholes without the need for stemming or other plugging arrangements.

Melt-in-fuel emulsion explosive composition and method

A process for preparing a gas bubble sensitized explosive composition. The present process comprises preparing an explosive composition comprising a water-in-oil emulsion and mechanically entraining gas bubbles into the explosive composition. Low viscosity emulsion explosives are able to be sensitized by this process. There is a preference for wax free emulsions to be used. The process is applicable to emulsion explosives comprising ammonium nitrate particles. By providing a process for the mechanical entrainment of stable gas bubbles we allow explosive compositions to be sensitized on-site by readily available mixing means.

Process for preparing explosive

An explosive composition comprising (a) a water-in-oil emulsion comprising (i) a discontinuous aqueous phase comprising at least one oxygen-releasing salt, (ii) a continuous water-immiscible organic phase and (iii) an emulsifier, and (b) 20 to 75% w/w of the total composition of brisant explosive and wherein the emulsifier is chosen from poly[alk(en)yl] succinic acid and derivatives thereof.

Primer composition

A gas-bubble-sensitized melt explosive composition, which is not deleteriously affected by pumping, containing certain surfactants which inhibit the disengagement of the sensitizing gas bubbles.

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Cheltenham, Australia

Michael A Yabsley