Heavy ANFO and a Tailored Expanded Polymeric Density Control Agent
AssigneeLDE Corporation
InventorKevin H. Waldock
Life of this patent
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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 a size that is related to the average mesh size of the ammonium nitrate prills.
Claims6
An explosive composition comprising:
- a heavy ANFO comprising ammonium nitrate prills, fuel oil, an a water-in-oil emulsion explosive;
- and
- expanded polymeric beads;
- wherein the ammonium nitrate prills have one of:
- (a) a predominant prill mesh size and (b) an average prill mesh size;
- wherein the water-in-oil emulsion explosive has a density greater than 1.25 g/cc;
- wherein the expanded polymeric beads have a density in the range of 0.010-0.016 g/cc and a bead size that is at least 70% and no more than about 200% of one of:
- (a) a size in the range of the predominant prill mesh size and (b) the average prill mesh size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.