Abstract: An improved explosive composition and a method for making the composition are disclosed. The explosive composition is prepared by first formulating a gel concentrate that comprises a mixture of a sensitizer, such as hexamethylenetetramine or hexamethylenetetraminemononitrate and an oxidizer, such as ammonium nitrate in water and a gelling agent. Mixtures of sensitizers or mixtures of oxidizers can also be used in our invention. This gelled concentrate can be prepared, stored and later utilized to form the explosive composition by combining from 5 to 60 parts by weight of the gelled concentrate with from 95 to 40 parts by weight of a particulate oxidizer, such as ammonium nitrate or an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil composition. The resulting explosive compositions have increased densities and hence a significantly higher energy per unit volume.

Abstract: A simplified aqueous gel ammonium nitrate suspension blasting agent is made by a procedure in which the step in which both solid and liquid ingredients are combined takes advantage of a balance of positive and negative heats of solution and the sensitivity of the composition is derived from the combination of hexamethylenetetramine and nitric acid. The blasting agent contains from 10 to 13 weight percent water and 75 to 85 weight percent ammonium nitrate, with no solid fuel, auxiliary oxidizers or sensitivity stabilizers.

Abstract: A canister for an explosive primer containing capsensitive aqueous gel explosive is formed from a thermoplastic by blow-molding a pair of semi-cylindrical bottles connected by an integral hinge which have one or more corresponding grooves in their mating flat longitudinal surfaces. When the flat surfaces of the two containers are placed in contact and the containers are fastened together to form a cylinder, the matching grooves form a central longitudinal tubular passage through the canister and, if desired, one or more cylindrical wells in close proximity to the central passage.