Nitrostarch emulsion explosives production process
AssigneeAtlas Powder Company
InventorJoseph A. Sohara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for producing a water-in-oil emulsion and the emulsion explosives therefrom containing nitrostarch by nitrating starch with an excess of a nitrating agent, treating the reaction mixture thereof with anhydrous ammonia to form a solution of water, dissolved ammonium nitrate, and nitrostarch, and thereafter combining the aqueous solution with a carbonaceous fuel phase and emulsifier to form a water-in-oil emulsion. The explosive is provided, preferably, by the distribution of voids throughout the water-in-oil emulsion to render it detonable. The invention is also applicable to the production of melt-in-fuel explosive compositions and water-gel explosives.
Claims48
A process for the manufacture of a water-in-oil emulsion containing nitrostarch, comprising:
- (a) combining starch with a nitrating agent;
- (b) maintaining said starch and nitrating agent in contact under suitable reaction conditions for a sufficient period to allow nitration of said starch to produce a mixture containing nitrostarch and nitrating agent;
- (c) contacting said mixture of nitrostarch and nitrating agent with a neutralizing agent to produce a solution containing nitrostarch, dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts, and water;
- and
- (d) combining the aqueous solution of nitrostarch and dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts with a carbonaceous fuel and an emulsifier to form a water-in-oil emulsion.
A process for the manufacture of a water-in-oil emulsion containing nitrostarch, comprising:
- (a) combining starch with nitric acid;
- (b) maintaining said starch and nitric acid in contact under suitable reaction conditions for a sufficient period to allow nitration of said starch to produce a mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid;
- (c) contacting said mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid with a neutralizing agent to produce a solution containing nitrostarch, dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts, and water;
- and
- (d) combining the aqueous solution of nitrostarch and dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts with a carbonaceous fuel and an emulsifier to form a water-in-oil emulsion.
A process for the manufacture of a water-in-oil emulsion containing nitrostarch, comprising:
- (a) slowly adding starch to an excess amount of nitric acid;
- (b) maintaining said starch and nitric acid in contact under suitable reaction conditions for a sufficient period to allow nitration of said starch to produce a mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid;
- (c) contacting said mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid with a neutralizing agent to produce a solution containing nitrostarch, dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts, and water;
- and
- (d) combining the aqueous solution of nitrostarch and dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts with a carbonaceous fuel and an emulsifier to form a water-in-oil emulsion.
A process for the manufacture of an emulsion containing nitrostarch consisting essentially of:
- (a) slowly adding dry powdered starch to an excess amount of nitric acid;
- (b) agitating and maintaining the temperature of step (a) between about -10.degree. C. to about 20.degree. C.;
- (c) maintaining said starch and nitric acid in contact under the conditions of step (b) for a sufficient period to allow nitration of said starch to produce a mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid;
- (d) contacting the mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid of step (c) with a neutralizing agent to produce a solution containing nitrostarch, dissolved ammonium nitrate and water;
- (e) adjusting the amount of water in said solution of nitrostarch dissolved ammonium nitrate and water of step (d) from 0% to about 15% of the weight of said solution;
- and
- (f) combining the aqueous solution of nitrostarch and dissolved ammonium nitrate with a carbonaceous fuel and an emulsifier to form an emulsion.
A process for the manufacture of an emulsion explosive containing nitrostarch, comprising:
- (a) slowly adding starch to an excess amount of nitric acid without other acids;
- (b) maintaining the starch and nitric acid in contact under suitable reaction conditions for a sufficient period to allow nitration of the starch to produce a mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid;
- (c) contacting said mixture of nitrostarch and nitric acid with a neutralizing agent to produce a solution containing nitrostarch, dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts and water;
- (d) adjusting the amount of water in said solution of nitrostarch, dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts and water of step (c) from 0% to about 15% of the weight of said solution;
- (e) combining the aqueous solution of nitrostarch and dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts with a carbonaceous fuel and an emulsifier to form an emulsion;
- and
- (f) adding density reducing agents throughout said emulsion of step (c) to render said emulsion detonable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.