Abstract: As has been established, the use of energetic materials, generated by manufacturer's excess and/or demilitarization projects, as ingredients in commercial blasting explosives is a feasible and environmentally acceptable method of handling them. Ammonium picrate is used as an explosive charge in the manufacturing of conventional ammunition rounds, such as large caliber navy guns. The present invention is directed to the use of recovered ammonium picrate in commercial blasting agent compositions, that include watergel slurries, ANFO, HANFO-blends and emulsion based blasting agents. These new blasting agents exhibit favorable cost for performance characteristics and have found a use for recovered ammonium picrate, which would heretofore have been incinerated or otherwise disposed of at significant cost.

Abstract: A process and composition for the beneficial utilization of waste materials which contain energetic materials are disclosed. Predetermined quantities of the waste material containing energetic materials are placed in admixture with commercial blasting agents causing the energetic materials to participate in the detonation process thereby utilizing energetic materials which would otherwise enter the waste stream. The waste material, in particulate form, that contains the energetic material is introduced into the blasting agent when the latter is in a relatively fluid state. The modified blasting agent is suitable for use in the normal manner such as in bulk or packaged form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery that the use of single base or triple base propellant of small grain size in combination with a detonator and a booster, produces a blasting agent which has considerable commercial value. The resulting blasting agent exhibits favorable cost for performance characteristics.

Abstract: A process and composition for the beneficial utilization of waste materials which contain energetic materials are disclosed. Predetermined quantities of the waste material containing energetic materials are placed in admixture with commercial blasting agents causing the energetic materials to participate in the detonation process thereby utilizing energetic materials which would otherwise enter the waste stream. The waste material, in particulate form, that contains the energetic materials is introduced into the blasting agent when the latter is in a relatively fluid state. The modified blasting agent is suitable for use in the normal manner such as in bulk or packaged form.

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 sensitizing agent for explosive compositions is provided which comprises particulate aluminum coated with a finely divided hydrophobic fumed silica. Upon incorporation of the hydrophobic material coated aluminum into an aqueous gel explosive composition, relatively large air bubbles, as compared to the size of the individual particles of aluminum, form adjacent the surface of the aluminum. The resulting sensitizing complex includes a relatively large air bubble in close proximity to particulate aluminum, thereby providing a combination which imparts greater sensitivity to the explosive composition.

Abstract: A water gel explosive composition and process for preparing the same is provided which comprises an oxidizer, water, a gelling agent, and a crosslinker, and wherein the improvement comprises including therein from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of at least one amine nitrate sensitizer selected from the group comprising lower alkyl and alkanol amine nitrates and from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of an aluminum sensitizer having a surface area per unit weight of from about 3 to about 9 square meters per gram, said weight percentages based upon the total weight of the explosive composition.

Abstract: A method for producing water gel explosives by stabilizing a dispersion of nitroparaffin, preferably nitromethane, in an aqueous oxidizer salt solution through the simultaneous in situ gelation of the nitromethane dispersed phase and the continuous external aqueous phase, and the product so produced.

Abstract: A method for producing water gel explosives by solubilizing a nitroparaffin sensitizer having 1-3 carbon atoms, preferably nitromethane, in an aqueous oxidizer perchlorate salt solution by incorporating in the composition a nitroparaffin solubilizing agent, such as ethylene glycol, and the product so produced.