Method of forming pre-defined recess in cured or cast explosive composition

A moulding system for providing a pre-defined recess in a cured or cast explosive composition, the system comprising:

• a female mould capable of receiving a curable/castable explosive composition;
• a male former having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the male former comprises at least one fluid vent that extends between the outer and inner surfaces of the male former, and wherein a seal of the at least one fluid vent comprises a removable plug that is removable from the vent;
• and
• a support to locate the male former proximate to the female mould in a location, to create a gap therebetween, to allow the formation of a pre-defined recess within said cured/cast explosive composition;
• wherein, in use of the system, the gap is charged with the curable/castable explosive composition, and post cure/cast the male former is removed from proximate to the female mould to furnish a cured or cast explosive composition with the pre-defined recess;
• wherein the support is further to retain the same location of the male former proximate to the female mould, while (i) the gap is being charged with the curable/castable explosive composition, and (ii) the curable/castable explosive composition is being cured/casted.

A process for forming a pre-defined recess in a cured or cast explosive composition, the process comprising:

• locating a male former proximate to a female mould to create a gap between said male former and female mould;
• forming an admixture of a curable/castable explosive composition;
• charging the gap with the admixture of explosive composition;
• causing the cure or cast of said curable/castable explosive composition;
• applying resonant acoustic stimulus at a frequency in the range of 20 Hz to 100 Hz to the female mould and/or male former;
• and
• removing the male former to furnish a cured or cast explosive composition with a pre-defined recess.