Slurry explosives compositions

Claim 1

The claims defining the invention are as follows 1. A slurry explosives composition which comprises at least one inorganic oxidizing salt, a liquid solvent disperser or carrier for said salt, fuel material, and as a rheology modifying agent an amount which constitutes up to 3% w/w of the said composition of fibrous material as hereinbefore defined. 2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the said slurry explosive composition comprises a thickening agent. 3. A composition according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said fibrous material has a length in a range from 0.5 to 30 millimetres. 4. A composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 inclusive wherein the said fibrous material is derived 0* from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefines, polyurethanes and polyacrylonitriles. A composition according to Claim 4 wherein the said fibrous material is selected from the group con- sisting of nylon 6, nylon 66, poly(ethyleneterephthalate). poly(ethylene) and poly(acrylonitrile). 6. A composition according to any one of Claims 1 to •3 inclusive wherein the said fibrous material is derived from material selected from the group consisting of asbestos, glass and refractory oxides. 0 7. A composition according to Claim 6 wherein the said refractory oxide is selected from the group consisting of alumina and zirconia. 8. A composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 inclusive wherein the said fibrous material is derived from cellulose. (lI I 9. A composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 inclusive wherein the said fibrous material constitutes from 0.001 to 2% w/w of the said composition. A composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 inclusive wherein the said fibrous material con- stitutes from 0.1 to 0.6% w/w of the said composition. 11. A composition according to any one of Claims 1 to inclusive wherein the said salt is selected from the group consisting of the perchlorates and nitrates of the alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals and ammonium and constitutes from 30 to 90% w/w of the :said liquid solvent, disperser or carrier constitutes from 3 to S. S w/w of the said composition; the said fuel material is selected from organic water soluble substances which S constitute from 0.5 to 10% w/w of the said composition, S *5 water insoluble and sparingly water soluble materials S OS@* which constitute from 1 to 10% w/w of the said com- position, and metallic water insoluble materials which constitutes up to 25% w/w of the said composition; and S the said thickening agent is selected from the group con- sisting of glactomannan gums, xanthan gums and polymeric materials derived from acrylamide and constitutes from S* 0.1 to 3% w/w of the said composition. 12. A composition according to Claim 11 wherein the said salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate and con- stitutes from 60 to 85% w/w of the said composition; the said liquid solvent is water and constitutes from 3 to 1 of the said composition; the said fuel material is selected from organic water soluble substances which constitute from 4 to 7% w/w of the said composition, water insoluble and sparingly water soluble materials which constit' te from 4 to 7% w/w of the said composition, and metallic powders which constitute from 0.5 to 20% w/w of the said ,S;z- /3 ia r~l composition; and the said thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, hydroxypropylguar gum, locust bean gum, biopolymeric material derived from Xanthomonas campestris and copolymeric material containing a major proportion of polyacrylanilde and constitutes from 0.3 to 1.5% w/w of the said composition. 13. A process for the manufacture of a slurry explosive composition which process comprises forming an explosive mixture comprising at least one inorganic oxidizing salt, a liquid solvent dispenser or carrier for said salt and fuel material, and to said mixture adding up to 3% w/w of the said composition of fibrous material as hereinbefore defined and incorporating said fibrous material into said ,i composition in a manner such that the rheological properties of the said composition are modified. 14. A composition according to Claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to any one of examples 2 to *inclusive and 18 to 35 inclusive and 43. A process according to Claim 13 and substantially as described with reference to any one of examples 2 to inclusive and 18 to 35 inclusive and 43. DATED this day of 7 19 W ICI AUSTRALIA LIMITED V. j 3