Gelled water-bearing explosive and process

Claim 2

A process according to claim 1 wherein said gelation is conducted at a pH from 4 to 6.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent comprises a compound of cerium wherein the valency of cerium is 4.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 4 wherein said crosslinking agent is ceric ammonium nitrate and said gum is guar gum.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent comprises a compound of cerium wherein the valency of cerium is 4 and wherein said gum comprises a biopolymeric material derived from a polymer which has been reacted with Xanthomonas campestris.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of samarium chloride, dysprosium chloride and ytterbium chloride and wherein said gum is guar gum.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1 comprising in addition the admixture of at least one further crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal dichromates, alkali metal borates and potassium antimony tartrate.

Claim 8

A stable, gelled, water bearing explosive composition comprising firstly at least one oxygen releasing salt selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, chlorate and perchlorate, alkali metal nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates, and alkaline earth metal nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates present in an amount from 50 to 90 parts; secondly water present in an amount from 5 to 25 parts; thirdly at least one fuel material selected from the group consisting of water soluble fuel present in an amount from 0.8 to 8 parts, non-metallic sparingly water soluble fuel and non-metallic water insoluble fuel present in an amount from 1 to 10 parts and metallic water insoluble fuel present in an amount from 0.5 to 20 parts; fourthly from 0.1 to 5 parts of at least one gum selected from the group consisting of galactomannans and xanthans crosslinked in situ at a pH from 3 to 8 with crosslinking agent selected from at least one of the group consisting of the compounds of the elements of atomic number 58 to 60 inclusive and 62 to 71 inclusive, said crosslinking agent being soluble in the system and being present in an amount from 0.002 to 2.5 millimoles per gram of said gum, all parts being in parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the composition.

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 9 wherein the oxygen releasing salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate and sodium nitrate.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 9 wherein the oxygen releasing salt constitutes from 65% to 85% by weight of the composition.

Claim 11

A composition according to claim 9 wherein water constitutes from 12% to 17% by weight of the composition.

Claim 12

A composition according to claim 9 wherein there is present from 0.5 to 3% by weight of guar gum crosslinked in situ at a pH from 4 to 6 with crosslinking agent selected from the compounds of cerium wherein the valency of cerium is 4 and wherein said crosslinking agent is present in an amount from 0.1 to 1.0 millimole per gram of said gum.

Claim 13

A stable, gelled, water bearing explosive composition comprising at least one water-soluble inorganic oxygen releasing salt; at least one fuel; from 5 to 35% by weight of water; and from 0.1 to 5% by weight of at least one gum selected from the group consisting of galactomAnnans and xanthans crosslinked in situ at a pH from 3 to 8 with crosslinking agent selected from at least one of the group consisting of the compounds of elements of atomic number 58 to 60 inclusive and 62 to 71 inclusive, said crosslinking agent being soluble in the system and being present in an amount from 0.002 to 2.5 millimoles per gram of said gum.