# US 2008/0185080 A1 · Heavy ANFO and a Tailored Expanded Polymeric Density Control Agent

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- Number: US 2008/0185080 A1
- Document ID: US20080185080A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/163,211
- Filed: 2005-10-10
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2005-10-10
- Inventors: Kevin H. Waldock; Christopher J. Kulish
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185080A1

## CPC

- C06B 31/285: {with fuel oil, e.g. ANFO-compositions}
- C06B 23/003: {Porous or hollow inert particles (preparation C06B21/0091)}
- C06B 45/00: Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product (explosive charges of particular form or shape F42B1/00, F42B3/00)
- C06B 45/02: comprising particles of diverse size or shape
- C06B 47/145: {Water in oil emulsion type explosives in which a carbonaceous fuel forms the continuous phase}
- C06B: EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS (blasting F42D); MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES (compounds in general C01, C07 or C08; {demolition agents based on cementitious or like materials C04B41/0009})

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to an explosive composition comprised of heavy ANFO and expanded polymeric beads that have a density that is less than the density of the heavy ANFO. The expanded polymeric beads have a size that is determined or based on the size of ammonium nitrate prills used in the heavy ANFO portion of the composition. In one embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads that are utilized in the composition are at least 70% of the lower limit of the mesh size of the predominant ammonium nitrate prill mesh size. In another embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads are at least 70% of the a size that is related to the average mesh size of the ammonium nitrate prills.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An explosive composition comprising:
a heavy ANFO comprising:
an ammonium nitrate prills and fuel oil; and
a water-in-oil emulsion explosive;
wherein said ammonium nitrate prills have a range of sizes and expanded polymeric beads that have a size that is related to prill sizes of the ammonium nitrate prills.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said expanded polymeric beads have a bead size that is related to a predominant prill size of said ammonium nitrate prills.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said expanded polymeric beads have a bead size that is at least 70% of a size in the range of a predominant prill mesh size.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said expanded polymeric beads have a bead size that is no more than about 200% of a size in the range of a predominant prill mesh size.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said expanded polymeric beads have a bead size that is related to an average prill size of said ammonium nitrate prills.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said expanded polymeric beads have a bead size that is at least 70% of an average prill size of said ammonium nitrate prills.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said expanded polymeric beads have a bead size that is no more than about 200% of an average size of said ammonium nitrate prills.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said ammonium nitrate prills are one of: fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate (“FGAN”) and commercial grade ammonium nitrate (“CGAN”).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said ammonium nitrate prills have a prill size in a range of 0.50-3.00 mm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said ammonium nitrate prills have prill size in a range of 0.90-2.50 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said water-in-oil emulsion explosive having a viscosity greater than 22,000 cP.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said water-in-oil emulsion explosive having a density greater than about 1.25 g/cc.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said water-in-oil emulsion explosive have a density greater than about 1.37 g/cc.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said water-in-oil emulsion explosive having a density greater than about 1.40 g/cc.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said water-in-oil emulsion explosive having a density in a range of 1.40-1.55 g/cc.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

An explosive composition, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said explosive composition having a velocity of detonation in a range of 1600-3500 m/s in a 12.25″ blast hole.