Aqueous blasting composition with crystal habit modifier
AssigneeIRECO Chemicals
InventorDaniel A. Wasson
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Abstract
The stabilization of a fine dispersion of an immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel throughout an aqueous blasting composition having a continuous aqueous phase is accomplished by the use of a crystal habit modifier to reduce the crystal size of the oxidizer salt in the composition. Such reduction is found to be critical for stabilizing the fine dispersion of immiscible hydrocarbon fuel droplets throughout the composition and resultantly for maintaining the sensitivity of the composition to detonation.
Claims20
In an aqueous blasting composition having a continuous aqueous phase and comprising inorganic oxidizer salt, liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and thickener;
- the improvement which comprises (a) an immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, tall oil, paraffin oil, and petroleum distillates such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels and fuel oils, and mixtures of any two thereof, which fuel is finely dispersed throughout the aqueous phase, and (b) a crystal habit modifier to reduce the crystal size of the oxidizer salt and thereby stabilize the fine dispersion of the immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel throughout the composition.
An aqueous blasting composition comprising ammonium nitrate, from about 10 to about 30% water, from about 3 to about 7% fuel oil, thickener, and from about 0.05% to about 3% sodium methylnaphthalene sulfonate as a crystal habit modifier.
A method of sensitizing an aqueous blasting composition having a continuous aqueous phase;
- oxidizer salt at least partially dissolved in the aqueous phase;
- thickener;
- and immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, tall oil, paraffin oil, and petroleum distillates such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels and fuel oils, and mixtures of any two thereof, which fuel is finely and stably dispersed throughout the aqueous phase;
- which method includes the steps of adding to the aqueous phase, at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of the oxidizer salt in the phase, a crystal habit modifier and allowing the composition to cool.
A method of sensitizing an aqueous blasting composition having a continuous aqueous phase;
- oxidizer salt at least partially dissolved in the aqueous phase;
- thickener and immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, tall oil, paraffin oil, and petroleum distillates such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels and fuel oils, and mixtures of any two thereof, which fuel is finely and stably dispersed throughout the aqueous phase;
- which method comprises the steps of:
- a. formulating a solution of oxidizer salt in water at a temperature above the salt crystallization temperature,
- b. adding thickener,
- c. adding a crystal habit modifier to the solution at the elevated temperature,
- d. dispersing the immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel throughout the solution, and
- e. allowing the resultant composition to cool.
A method of sensitizing an aqueous blasting composition having a continuous aqueous phase;
- oxidizer salt at least partially dissolved in the aqueous phase;
- thickener and immiscible liquid hydrocarbon fuel selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, tall oil, paraffin oil, and petroleum distillates such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels and fuel oils, and mixtures of any two thereof, which fuel is finely and stably dispersed throughout the aqueous phase;
- which method comprises the steps of:
- a. formulating a solution of crystal habit modifier and oxidizer salt in water added at a temperature above the salt crystallization temperature,
- b. adding thickener,
- c. dispersing the immiscible hydrocarbon fuel throughout the solution, and
- d. allowing the resultant composition to cool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.