Gasser composition and method of gassing
AssigneeOrica Australia Pty Ltd
InventorsHelen O'Hara, David Stow, David Edwin Yates
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Abstract
A method of preparing a gassed water-in-oil emulsion explosives composition from a gasser solution of an inorganic nitrate, an ammonium species and an optional accelerator which is added to an emulsion explosive composition, reacts and forms gas bubbles is disclosed. The emulsion explosive composition is composed of a discontinuous aqueous phase, a continuous water immiscible organic phase, and an emulsifier. The reaction between the gasser solution and the emulsion explosive composition is such that the emulsifier does not undergo chemical attack.
Claims40
A gassed emulsion explosive composition comprising an emulsion, excluding micro-emulsions, in combination with a gasser composition,
- the emulsion having a discontinuous aqueous phase comprising inorganic oxygen releasing salts, a continuous water immiscible organic phase and a poly[alk(en)yl] succinic anhydride based emulsifier, and
- the gasser composition having a solution of an inorganic nitrite, an ammonium species and optionally an accelerator,
- wherein the reaction between the inorganic nitrite and ammonium species occurs within droplets of the gasser solution such that there is substantially no chemical attack on the emulsifier.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the gasser solution pH is between pH 5 and pH 9.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the ratio of inorganic nitrite to ammonium species is between 10:1 and 1:10.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the molar proportion of ammonium species is up to 10% greater than the molar proportion of inorganic nitrite.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the ammonium species and inorganic nitrite are present in equimolar quantities.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the ammonium species is chosen from the group comprising ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate and combinations thereof.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the ammonium species is formed in situ in the gasser composition.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the ammonium species comprises up to 25 wt % of the gasser solution.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inorganic nitrite is chosen from the group comprising alkaline earth nitrites, alkali metal nitrite or combinations thereof.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inorganic nitrite comprises up to 25 wt % of the gasser solution.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims wherein the gasser solution comprises an accelerator chosen from the group comprising thiourea, urea, thiocyanate, iodide, cyanate, acetate and combinations thereof.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the previous claims wherein the accelerator comprises up to 25 wt % of the gasser solution.
A gassed emulsion explosive according to any of the preceding claims having a density of less than 1.0 g/cc.
A gasser solution substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.
A method of gassing substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.
A gassed emulsion explosive substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.