Abstract: The present invention relates to improved explosives. More particularly, the invention relates to cap-sensitive slurry explosives, either water-in-oil emulsion explosives or conventional water-based slurries having a continuous aqueous phase, containing high strength, small, hollow, dispersed spheres as a density reducing agent. The preferred explosive is a cap-sensitive water-in-oil emulsion explosive having a water-immiscible liquid organic fuel as a continuous phase; an emulsified aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt solution as a discontinuous phase; an emulsifier; and as a density reducing agent, small, hollow, dispersed spheres, preferably glass or plastic, having a strength such that a maximum of about 10% collapse under a pressure of 500 psi. As used herein, the term "cap-sensitive" means that the explosive composition is detonable with a No. 8 cap at 20.degree. C. in a charge diameter of 32 mm or less.

Abstract: Raw oil shale is retorted to liberate an effluent product stream. Ammonia is withdrawn from the product stream and reacted to produce ammonium nitrate. Shale oil is separated from the product stream and mixed with 90% to 98% by weight ammonium nitrate to produce explosives. The shale oil can be whole shale oil or heavy shale oil containing from 0.1% to 65% by weight oil shale dust. The ammonium nitrate is preferably in the form of explosive grade ammonium nitrate prills. The shale oil is preferably heated before being mixed with the ammonium nitrate to make the shale oil more blendable.

Abstract: Pyrotechnic devices are described which are intended to emit an illuminating flux starting from multiple, exact, movable sources, particularly suitable for displays of artificial fireworks. The illuminating pyrotechnic devices consist of a shell which contains a block of a pyrotechnic composition consisting of at least a polymerized binder, an oxidizer and a combustible metal. For the purpose of achieving the bursting of the composition into a multitude of incandescent fragments when the device is ignited, the pyrotechnic composition consists of a binder of the phenoplastic type and an oxidizer, the granulometry of which is lower than 150 micrometers and the block, the smallest dimension of which is greater than 15 mm, has undergone a rapid cooling which gives rise to internal strains and fracture points within the composition.

Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion explosive composition comprising a carbonaceous fuel, and inorganic oxidizer, an emulsifier, and a sensitizing/densifying agent of finely divided non-explosive material of high density, such as ferrophosphorus, ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, sand or alumia which is added to the oil phase. The water-in-oil composition can also contain other components, such as bulking agents, additional fuels and auxiliary sensitizers. The sensitized compositions can be detonated with a No. 6 cap in diameters as low as 2.54 centimeters at temperatures as low as 5.degree. F. and with densities as high as 1.50 g/cc.

Abstract: A sensitizing agent for water gel explosive compositions and process for preparing the same is provided which comprises an oxidizer, water, a gelling agent, and a cross-linker, and wherein the improvement comprises including therein a sensitizer comprised of from about 1 to about 15 weight percent of aluminum admixed with from about 2 to about 25 weight percent of a densifying agent, such as ferrophosphorus, ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, or combinations thereof, said weight percentages being based on the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: A granulated blasting agent composition comprising ammonium nitrate, a nitroalkane having of from 2 to 3 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof, a density improver selected from the group consisting of wheat flour and bentonite and polyoxyethylene ether as a thickening agent for the nitroalkane in an amount sufficient to prevent migration of the nitroalkane from the ammonium nitrate.

Abstract: A plastic bound high power explosive comprises 90 to 97 percent by weight of a powerful explosive compound, for example octogen, and 3 to 10 percent by weight of a novel stabilizing and binding agent. The agent comprises substantially 20 to 50 percent poly-O-butyl acrylate and 3.5 to 20 percent paraffin, as well as 2 to 7 percent poly tetrafluorethylene as a lubricant, 20 to 65 percent of a filler and 1 to 8 percent poly ethylene or, respectively, in the case of an antistatic high power explosive, 25 to 65 percent graphite as a lubricant and 15 to 25 percent calcium sulphate as a filler, each by weight of the portion of solids in the agent. Further additives like emulsifiers, dispersants, defoamers, surfactants, thickeners and small amounts of silica gel are added.

Abstract: A pyrotechnical composition for delay elements comprising metallic antimony and potassium permanganate are disclosed. The pyrotechnical composition can contain 0.1 to 2.08 percent of a light metal in powder form. It is useful as a delay composition in time fuses having burning time intervals of over 150 milliseconds.

Abstract: An explosive having a relatively small amount of powdered ferrite magnet dispersed therethrough, each magnet particle coated with a resin coating which is stable for the explosive material on the entire outer surface thereof. The resultant explosive is readily detected by a magnetic detector and is stable for a long time storage. As the resin coating, methyl methacrylate resin, styrene resin, acrylonitril resin, butadiene resin, vinyl acetate resin, acrylic acid resin, methylacrylate resin and/or the other vinyl resin is used.The resin coating is colored to color the explosives so that explosives may be distinctly visible, readily detected and identified.

Abstract: A slurry explosive composition which contains fibrous material as a rheology modifying agent.

Abstract: A method of preparing high burning rate solid propellant grains that have od mechanical properties and the high burning rate solid propellant grains prepared from a multimodal blend of at least one ultra-high burning rate propellant that has been cured and ground to a predetermined particle size of from about 100 microns (0.1 millimeter) to about 5 millimeters and at least one uncured propellant composition that has high tensile strength and compatibility with the ultra-high burning rate propellant and that serves as a binder for the solid propellant grain when cured. The solid propellant grain which has good mechanical and physical properties and a high burning rate burns with a flame that moves through the grain as a plane wave. Even though the individual components have different burning rates, it is the rate of the plane wave through the grain that is controlled by the averaging of the rate of burning through each of the particles of the multimodal blend and the binder propellant.

Abstract: Finely divided aluminum oxide increases the burning rate, reduces the pressure exponent at high pressures and stabilizes the combustion of solid propellant compositions.

Abstract: A relatively low temperature nitrogen gas generating composition is disclosed which consists essentially of (a) from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight of an oxidizer selected from the oxides of iron, nickel and cobalt, said oxidizer having a primary particle size in the range from about 0.1 micron to about 7 microns in diameter; and, (b) at least 50 percent by weight of an alkali metal azide. Optionally, less than about 10 percent by weight of an alkali metal perchlorate may be included as a booster. The nitrogen gas generating composition provides the nitrogen gas at a low enough temperature but at a sufficiently high speed, without generating a large quantity of finely divided solid residue particles. A major portion of the combustion residue is a coherent porous solid sinter or fused mass of residue particles which autogenously provides both self-filtration of ejected particles and sorption of any molten combustion product.

Abstract: The use of an aluminum silicate molecular sieve as a stabilizer in propelts that give off gas during the aging process. An aluminum silicate molecular sieve is added to propellants that give off gases such as N.sub.2, CO.sub.2, CO, F.sub.2 and NO.sub.x during the aging process. The aluminum silicate molecular sieve is selected to have a pore size of less than about 10 angstroms. This brings about absorption of these undesirable gases during the aging process and thereby prevents degradation of the propellant.

Abstract: Finely divided cupric sulfide increases the burning rate, and reduces the pressure exponent of solid propellant compositions.

Abstract: A dual stabilization system for urethane - crosslinked double base propelt. The stabilization system includes N-Methyl-p-Nitroaniline and Aluminum Silicate molecular sieve. The two stabilizers function in a complementary fashion wherein the N-Methyl-p-Nitroaniline reacts with and makes harmless the nitrogen (III) oxide during the propellant aging process. The Aluminum Silicate molecular sieve is selected to have a pore size of more than about 10 angstroms and reacts with and makes harmless the nitrogen (V) oxides, primarily nitric acid, during the propellant aging process.

Abstract: A nitrate or nitroparaffin-base liquid exlosive composition having a small critical diameter yet which is essentially free of particulate metals such as may render such compositions unduly brisant or susceptible to decomposition, and which is consistent with the safety requirements of geological fracturing, including an inert solid ballistic modifier having a sonic velocity substantially different from that of the explosive material in the composition and an average particle size of less than 10 microns, forming from about 5% to 20% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: Ballistic modifiers of up to one micron in size are slurried and mixed with high impulse propellant slurry in order to produce a high impulse propellant having a plateau or mesa burning characteristic.

Abstract: A capsulated explosive composition comprising a high molecular weight compound forming the capsule wall and an explosive forming the core is high in power and low in sensitivity and vapor pressure, and can be easily handled.