Abstract: A slurry explosive composition is provided which has improved water resistance and thermal stability and resists segregation. The composition consists of an inorganic oxygen-supplying salt, a liquid carrier or solvent for the salt, a solid or liquid fuel and, as a thickener a sulfonated guar gum derivative.

Abstract: A slurry explosive composition comprising of inorganic salt, fuel, and a liquid solvent, disperser or carrier for the salt, the composition also containing, as sensitizer a synergistic mixture of polyvinyl chloride and flake aluminium.

Abstract: A pourable blasting agent of high water resistance, having controlled density and bulk blasting strength greater than that of conventional ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) mixtures, comprises two main essential components, i.e. (1) 40 to 60% by weight of a dry or essentially dry, solid, particulate oxidizer salt, with or without added fuel oil for oxygen balance and (2) 60 to 40% of a water-in-oil emulsion containing oxidizer salt dissolved in water and combined with an oily vehicle held in stable emulsion condition with a small quantity of water-in-oil emulsifier, the emulsion also containing a density controlled sensitizer such as hollow glass beads, polystyrene beads, microballoons or equivalent. The first component is preferably a fertilizer grade prilled ammonium nitrate, with or without added oil; the second is of heavy oil or grease consistency having high resistance to the extraction of salt therefrom in water and being of substantially higher bulk density than the particulate material.

Abstract: A blasting booster comprises a rigid tube filled with a mixture, by weight, of about: 60% to 80% ammonium nitrate prills ground through a 1/16" screen; 12% to 35% whole ammonium nitrate prills and 3% to 8% diesel oil. Preferably the mixture includes about 0.4% to 10% aluminum fuel and the weight ratio of ground to whole prills is about 4 to 1. In use the booster tube is plastic lined and is placed in the bottom of a bore hole which is filled with AN-FO or an appropriate blasting agent. A one-pound cast primer on top of the booster is detonated to initiate the booster and the AN-FO, whereby detonation velocities and pressures in excess of non-boosted AN-FO, for example, are achieved in the critical bottom three feet of the bore hole. Bore hole patterns, where the booster is used, are expanded over tighter patterns required for non-boosted AN-FO alone, and drilling costs are significantly reduced.

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

Abstract: A process for making an explosive composition which process comprises heating a mixture comprising at least one oxygen releasing salt and at least one compound selected from a class of melt soluble fuel materials so as to form a melt, and adding to the melt an amount of oxygen releasing salt material whereby there is formed an explosive composition which is pourable, pumpable or flowable over a wide range of temperature. Explosive compositions are described also.

Abstract: An extrudable ammunition priming mix with viscosity characteristics which remain relatively stable over an extended time span. The stabilized viscosity is obtained by incorporating an effective amount of guar gum into the priming mix. The primer thus displays improved pot life so that larger batches may be made and used over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A thickened, aqueous slurry explosive composition containing a soluble organic nitrate sensitizer is provided which has improved rheological properties. Use in the composition as a thickener, of a mixture of an unmodified guar gum and a hydroxypropyl-modified guar gum provides a composition which retains flowability for an hour or more for easy extrusion packaging yet achieves a high level of gel strength and cartridge rigidity within a day after packaging.

Abstract: A case bonded end burning solid propellant rocket motor utilizing a propellant having sufficiently low modulus to avoid chamber buckling on cooling from cure and sufficiently high elongation to sustain the stresses induced without cracking, the propellant being zone cured within the motor case at high pressures equal to or approaching the pressure at which the motor will operate during combustion. A solid propellant motor having a burning time long enough that its spacecraft would be limited to a maximum acceleration of less than 1 g is provided by one version of the case bonded end burning solid propellant motor of the invention.

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: Water-in-oil explosive compositions are provided which are No. 6 cap sensitive in cartridges having diameters of 1.25 inches and less and which contain from about 3.5 to about 8% by weight of a hydrocarbon fuel including an emulsifier, from about 10 to about 22% by weight of water, from about 0.25 to about 15% by weight of closed cell void containing materials, from about 65 to about 85% by weight of inorganic oxidizer salt, optionally, up to about 15% by weight of an auxiliary fuel and no explosive ingredients nor detonation catalysts.

Abstract: Gelled explosive compositions, sensitized with water-in-oil explosive emulsions, are provided which do not require high explosive sensitizing agents and which contain oxidizing salts, water, gelling agents, and, optionally, bulking agents and fuels, as well as from about 1 to about 80 percent by weight of a water-in-oil explosive emulsion sensitizer which can be of the cap sensitive or cap insensitive variety.

Abstract: Salicylate esters have been found to be suitable blocking agents for polyisocyanates, enabling preparation of hydroxy terminated polybutadiene based polyurethane bound propellant grains having extended pot life. Unblocking occurs readily at normal propellant cure temperatures, allowing normal cure rates.

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: Improved tracer rounds and compositions therefor comprising a rubbery, particulate mixture having magnesium, polytetrafluoroethylene and advantageously other ingredients coated with copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and vinylidenefluoride, optionally containing ingredients such as carbon black, and providing advantages in preparation (e.g., lower consolidation pressures) and use (e.g., more uniform burning after ignition).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous explosive composition which consists of at least one inorganic oxygen-supplying substance, at least one combustible substance and at least one thickening agent, at least one of combustible substance being liquid and substantially water insoluble and the aqueous phase of the explosive composition having dissolved therein a lignosulphonate in an amount of up to 5% of the weight of the explosive composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to stabile blasting slurry systems useful particularly with the latest blasting slurry trucks, involving the preparation of particular new fuel liquids mixed with particular oxidizer liquids and including in most embodiments solid oxidizers and solid fuels.

Abstract: Improved explosive slurries of the type containing an oxidizing salt, an organic fuel, a metallic fuel, a thickening agent, and water, wherein the improvement includes a sensitizing amount of an inorganic peroxide.

Abstract: Improved thickened aqueous slurry explosives of the type containing an inorganic oxidizing salt, a fuel, and water are disclosed, wherein the improvement includes the use of a colloidal hydrous metal oxide as a thickening agent.

Abstract: Processes whereby water based explosive compositions comprising inorganic oxygen releasing salt material and a synthetic polymeric gelling agent may be converted to a cartridged form and wherein the cartridge container is based on paper are described. The preparation of gelled water bearing systems, especially water based explosive compositions comprising inorganic oxygen releasing salt material, containing gelling agents derived from synthetic polymeric material and a redox system is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved explosives or blasting compositions of the aqueous gel or slurry type. In general, it concerns such blasting compositions employing a combination of calcium nitrate as oxidizer salt and sulfur as fuel. This combination effectively sensitizes the composition and renders its sensitivity relatively less dependent upon temperatures. In addition, this combination imparts desirable physical properties to the composition.

Abstract: An explosive composition, fluid when formulated and gelling to a paste at a predetermined time is provided. The composition, which is particularly useful for blasting rocks and can be readily poured or pumped into drillholes, comprises an oxidant, a combustible, a gelling agent, water and a gelling promoter.

Abstract: An inorganic gel-ammonium nitrate composite material useful as explosives is disclosed which comprises a mixture of ammonium nitrate and a purified and swollen inorganic gel of montmorillonite.

Abstract: The compositions burn to produce flickering signals of flame and smoke, and which in addition emit infrared and radar signals. The compositions comprise a fuel of either magnesium, aluminum or both, a reactive chlorinated aromatic compound such as hexachlorobenzene, one or more oxidizers selected from nitrates and perchlorates of ammonium, barium, cesium, lithium, potassium, sodium, and strontium, and a binder of a fluorinated polymer.

Abstract: Tracer projectile having an enlarged diameter cavity wherein pyrotechnic cer mixture therein is caused to end-burn sequentially in opposed directions by means of a folded cup-shaped device to thereby extend the duration of visibility and improve the quality of downrange visibility of the tracer and yet permit ballistics of the projectile to remain unaffected.

Abstract: High explosives and propellants made by combining a nitrated cellulose with a ketone or ketone derivative.

Abstract: Particulate high explosives containing ammonium nitrate and organic or inorganic ammonium nitrate sensitizers are disclosed along with methods of producing the same. The sensitizers, comprising sulfur, metals, carbonaceous material and combinations of these, are dispersed throughout each particle in intimate association with the ammonium nitrate by suspension in a layer of ammonium nitrate-calcium sulfate reaction product.

Abstract: A flame-explosion couple is disclosed which upon ignition burns for a period of time in a relatively stable manner and thereafter explodes to produce fragments which continue to burn for a further period of time. The composition may comprise from 40 to 89 percent by weight of a volatile liquid fuel, from 10 to 50 percent by weight of a secondary explosive or strong metal salt oxidizer and from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of an explosive primer. It is usually desirable to incorporate a gellant in the composition to give it a jellylike consistency of a desired viscosity. The composition may optionally contain combustible metal powders and combustible polymers.

Abstract: 1. An explosive slurry composition comprising a substantially saturated solution of ammonium nitrate, and suspended solids in said solution to form said slurry, said solids being comprised of at least 50 parts by weight of ammonium nitrate, and not more than 50 parts by weight of finely divided metallic aluminum of character such as to increase the sensitivity of said composition to detonation, the total nitrate comprising at least 50% of the total composition, said composition including water comprising at least 3 percent by weight of the total composition. 2. An ammonium nitrate explosive composition consisting essentially of particulate ammonium nitrate in admixture with an aqueous solution saturated with respect to ammonium nitrate, and with up to 35 per cent by weight of an inorganic sensitizer which taken alone is a stable solid at a temperature of at least 100.degree.C., the amount of water being from 3 to 25 per cent by weight of the total composition. 3.

Abstract: A stable, gelled, water-bearing explosive composition and a process for making same. The composition comprises at least one water-soluble inorganic oxygen releasing salt; at least one fuel; water; and at least one gum selected from the group consisting of galactomannans and xanthans crosslinked in situ with a crosslinking agent comprising a redox system which system comprises at least one arsenious compound.

Abstract: A combustible composition for generating aerosols for the control and modification of weather conditions consisting of a readily oxidizable substance selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, alkali-metals and alkaline earth metals; an oxidizing agent selected from the groups consisting of:(a) sulphur and sulphur yielding compounds; and(b) organic and inorganic nitrates, alkali-metal and ammonium chlorates and perchlorates;The molar ratio of the oxidizable substance to the oxidizing agent being between 1.5:1 and 3.