Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a stable, water-in-oil emulsion phase containing a polymeric emulsifier. The addition of an animal oil or fatty acid additive enhances the long-term stability of the emulsion phase following homogenization.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a stable, water-in-oil emulsion phase containing a polymeric emulsifier. The addition of an animal oil or fatty acid additive enhances the long-term stability of the emulsion phase following homogenization.

Abstract: The invention comprises an emulsion explosive composition having an organic fuel as a continuous phase; an inorganic oxidizer salt solution or melt as a discontinuous phase; an emulsifier; and gas bubbles formed from a chemical gassing agent that comprises a nitrite salt and an ion selected from the group consisting of calcium ion, strontium ion and mixtures thereof as a gassing enhancer. The invention further comprises a method for chemically gassing an emulsion explosive composition. The method involves adding to a pre-formed emulsion phase a chemical gassing agent that comprises a nitrite salt and calcium or strontium ion and mixing the gassing agent uniformly throughout the emulsion phase to produce finely dispersed, sensitizing gas bubbles.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of preventing afterblast sulfide dust explosions in blasting operations involving sulfide-containing ores, which method comprises (a) loading a borehole that has been drilled into a sulfide-containing ore body with an emulsion blasting agent that comprises an emulsifier, a continuous organic fuel phase, a density control agent, and a discontinuous oxidizer salt solution phase that comprises inorganic oxidizer salt(s), water and urea as a chemical inhibitor in an amount of from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the blasting agent, the blasting agent being loaded in a coupling relationship with the borehole; and (b) detonating the blasting agent.

Abstract: The invention comprises a cap-sensitive, cast, solid explosive composition usable as a booster or primer and as a seismic explosive composition. The cast, solid explosive composition contains dispersed microballoons which impart important and surprising advantages.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a watergel explosive composition, and method of manufacturing the same, that has a density of less than 0.8 g/cc. The composition has good water resistance and is especially useful in blasting applications calling for lower energy explosives.

Abstract: The water-in-oil emulsion explosives of this invention contain a water-immiscible organic fuel as a continuous phase, an emulsified inorganic oxidizer salt solution as a discontinuous phase, an emulsifier, gas bubbles or an air entraining agent for sensitization, and from about 1% to about 30% by weight of the composition urea for stabilization against thermal degradation with reactive sulfide/pyrite ores. The invention also relates to a method of using such explosives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved explosive composition. More particularly, the invention relates to a water-in-oil emulsion explosive that is sensitized by chemically formed gas bubbles. The water-in-oil emulsion explosives of this invention contain a water-immiscible organic fuel as the continuous phase, an emulsified inorganic oxidizer salt solution as the discontinuous phase, an emulsifier, a chemical gassing agent and a surfactant for increasing the rate of gas generation from the gassing agent. The invention also relates to a method of forming such explosives. As used herein, the term "water-in-oil" will refer to a discontinuous phase of polar or water-miscible droplets emulsified throughout a nonpolar or water-immiscible continuous phase. Such emulsions may or may not actually contain water, and those not containing water sometimes are referred to as "melt-in-oil" emulsions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cast explosive composition and other energetic compositions such as propellants. (As used herein, the term "explosive" also shall include other energetic compositions such as propellants.) More particularly, the invention relates to a cast explosive composition which is initially formed as a stable, fluid, water-containing, water-in-oil emulsion explosive and which thereafter solidifies upon the addition of a desiccant and/or emulsion destabilizing agent. As used herein, the term "desiccant" means a water reacting, absorbing or adsorbing agent. One method of the present invention is the formulating of the cast explosive composition by adding the desiccant and/or destabilizing agent to a stable emulsion to cause the emulsion to solidify. Alternatively, a desiccant can be included in the aqueous phase of the stable emulsion which then is solidified by the addition of an emulsion destabilizing agent.