Abstract: A method of characterizing the structure of a void sensitized liquid energetic material, which method comprises defining the material in terms distribution function, the distribution function representing the fraction of liquid energetic material that occurs at a given point within the void sensitized liquid energetic material.

Abstract: An explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, wherein the sensitizing voids are present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, wherein the liquid energetic material comprises (a) regions in which the sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and (b) regions in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated and wherein the explosive composition does not contain ammonium nitrate prill.

Abstract: A method of producing an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, which method comprises: providing a flow of liquid energetic material; and delivering sensitizing voids into the flow of liquid energetic material in a series of pulses to provide regions in the liquid energetic material in which sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and regions in the liquid energetic material in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated.

Abstract: A mobile manufacturing and delivery platform that is adapted to provide in a blasthole an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution. The platform comprises a storage tank for the liquid energetic material; at least two delivery lines for conveying respective streams of the liquid energetic material from the storage tank; a void delivery system for producing sensitizing voids in at least one of the streams of liquid energetic material; a mixer for mixing the streams of liquid energetic material to produce the explosive composition; and a blasthole loading hose. The mixer may be provided at the end of the loading hose. A blasting method employs the platform to manufacture and deliver the explosive composition into a blasthole, which composition is subsequently detonated.

Abstract: A process for producing an intermediate emulsion comprising an oxidizer solution, fuel and emulsifier, which process comprises the steps of: (a) mixing in a micromixer an oxidizer solution with a fuel blend comprising a fuel and an emulsifier so as to solubilize a portion of the oxidizer solution in the fuel blend to produce a precursor product; (b) mixing the precursor product obtained in step (a) using a micromixer in one or more successive stages in order to form the intermediate emulsion.

Abstract: A mobile manufacturing and delivery platform that is adapted to provide in a blasthole an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution. The platform comprises a storage tank for the liquid energetic material; at least two delivery lines for conveying respective streams of the liquid energetic material from the storage tank; a void delivery system for producing sensitizing voids in at least one of the streams of liquid energetic material; a mixer for mixing the streams of liquid energetic material to produce the explosive composition; and a blasthole loading hose. The mixer may be provided at the end of the loading hose. A blasting method employs the platform to manufacture and deliver the explosive composition into a blasthole, which composition is subsequently detonated.

Abstract: A method of producing an explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, the sensitizing voids being present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, which method comprises: providing a flow of liquid energetic material; and delivering sensitizing voids into the flow of liquid energetic material in a series of pulses to provide regions in the liquid energetic material in which sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and regions in the liquid energetic material in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated.

Abstract: A method of characterising the structure of a void sensitized liquid energetic material, which method comprises defining the material in terms distribution function, the distribution function representing the fraction of liquid energetic material that occurs at a given point within the void sensitized liquid energetic material.

Abstract: An explosive composition comprising a liquid energetic material and sensitizing voids, wherein the sensitizing voids are present in the liquid energetic material with a non-random distribution, wherein the liquid energetic material comprises (a) regions in which the sensitizing voids are sufficiently concentrated to render those regions detonable and (b) regions in which the sensitizing voids are not so concentrated and wherein the explosive composition does not contain ammonium nitrate prill.

Abstract: A process for producing an intermediate emulsion comprising an oxidizer solution, fuel and emulsifier, which process comprises the steps of: (a) mixing in a micromixer an oxidizer solution with a fuel blend comprising a fuel and an emulsifier so as to solubilise a portion of the oxidizer solution in the fuel blend to produce a precursor product; (b) mixing the precursor product obtained in step (a) using a micromixer in one or more successive stages in order to form the intermediate emulsion.

Abstract: An emulsion explosive comprising a discontinuous oxygen-releasing salt phase, a continuous fuel phase and an emulsifier blend, said emulsifier blend comprising a first emulsifier component consisting of at least one emulsifier comprising a lipophilic moiety, being a polymer of a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 olefin, and a hydrophilic moiety, being derived from an amine wherein the HLB of the first emulsifier component, as herein defined, is in the range of from 1.0 to 1.3 and a second emulsifier component and wherein the HLB of the emulsifier blend, as herein defined is in the range of from 1.4 to 3.0. Compositions of the present invention combine not only ease of formation and long term stability but also provide significant advantages in the refinement of emulsions and exhibit improved tolerance to shear allowing repumping and greater ease of handling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cap-sensitive explosive compositions, in particular to emulsion explosives doped with solid particulate ammonium nitrate which retain stability and cap-sensitivity despite containing relatively high levels of dopant.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a composition comprising solid particulate ammonium nitrate having improved explosive properties.Explosive compositions comprising particulate ammonium nitrate such as ANFO, which is a mixture of particulate ammonium nitrate and about 6% w/w of a fuel oil which is typically distillate oil, have been known for many years as relatively inexpensive and reliable explosives.Despite the wide acceptance of particulate ammonium nitrate based exposlives in the industry, their use has been limited by their relatively poor performance in wet conditions; in such conditions, explosive power can be seriously reduced, and they can be difficult to detonate.

Abstract: This invention concerns a dynamite type explosive composition which comprises at least one liquid explosive nitric ester and an emulsion composition comprising an oxygen-releasing salt phase, an organic phase and an emulsifier. The invention provides dynamite type compositions in which the amount of liquid explosive nitric ester can be significantly reduced without adversely affecting the performance and physical properties of the composition.

Abstract: Gelled explosive compositions of matter based on inorganic oxygen releasing salt material and comprising from 0 to 5% w/w of water, from 0.1 to 5% w/w of gum and from 1 to 30% w/w of an amine which in liquid form is capable of solvating said gum.