Importance

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Abstract

An explosive charge such as a cast booster charge (10, 110, 210) includes an explosive charge (14, 114, 214) having a first explosive matrix material (114a, 214a) with discrete bodies (118, 218) of a second material embedded therein. In some embodiments, discrete bodies may comprise explosive material and the first explosive matrix material (114a, 214a) may be more sensitive to initiation than the explosive material of the discrete bodies (118, 218). In a separate aspect of the invention, the discrete bodies may have a minimum dimension of at least 1 millimeter or, optionally, 1.6 millimeter, regardless of the explosive properties of the material therein. In a particular embodiment, discrete bodies may be shaped as cylindrical pellets rounded at at least one end. The cast booster charge (10, 110, 210) may be produced by melting the first explosive, disposing discrete bodies therein and cooling the molten material to solid form.

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First Claim