Importance

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Abstract

Explosives that are sensitized blends of a water-in-oil emulsion and inorganic nitrate, e.g., AN, particles, such as AN or ANFO prills, have improved stability when their structure hinders the loss of water from the aqueous emulsion phase and transportation of such water across the oil phase to the nitrate particles. Use of an anionic emulsifying agent comprising a fatty acid salt, e.g., as formed in situ during the formation of the emulsion, is the preferred way of forming such a blend-stabilizing structure. Emulsion/nitrate blends stabilized in this manner make satisfactory storage-stable packaged products. Emulsion/nitrate blends made with a new low-viscosity emulsion containing essentially all of the oil required to oxygen-balance the blend and a proportionately larger amount of anionic emulsifying agent to stabilize the emulsion structure constitute preferred bulk products owing to their greater adaptability to pumping. Pumping the stabilized blends through an annular stream of aqueous lubricating liquid is advantageous.

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First Claim