Explosive composition flowable over wide temperature range

Claim 2

An explosive composition of a non-aqueous oxidizer salt type which is characterized in that it assumes a molten form at temperatures in a range from -10° C. to +90° C. and comprises as a first component a product resultant of treatment of a mixture comprising at least one oxygen-releasing salt material and at least one compound selected from a class of melt-soluble fuel materials, of which at least a part of said fuel material is capable of forming a melt with at least a part of said oxygen-releasing salt material and wherein the temperature at which such a melt is formed is no greater than is the melting point of either the said fuel material or the said oxygen-releasing salt material, so as to form a melt; and as a second component a further amount of at least one oxygen-releasing salt material such that the said first component constitutes from 20 to 60% w/w of the said composition and the said second component constitutes from 40 to 80% w/w of the said composition.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said oxygen-releasing salt material is selected from the group consisting of the nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and ammonium.

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said oxygen-releasing salt material is selected from the group consisting of calcium nitrate and sodium nitrate.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said oxygen-releasing salt material is ammonium nitrate.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said fuel material is selected from the group consisting of carboxylates, thiocyanates, amines, imides and amides.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 5 wherein the said fuel material is selected from the group consisting of ammonium acetate, ammonium formate, ammonium thiocyanate, hexamethylene tetramine, dicyandiamide, thiourea and acetamide.

Claim 8

A composition according to claim 5 wherein the said fuel material comprises urea.

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said first component constitutes from 25 to 45% w/w of the said composition.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said first component comprises from 30 to 70% w/w of the said oxygen-releasing salt material.

Claim 11

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said first component comprises from 40 to 60% w/w of the said oxygen-releasing salt material.

Claim 12

A composition according to claim 1 comprising up to 5% w/w of secondary fuel material selected from the group consisting of liquid carbonaceous materials, solid carbonaceous materials and finely divided metals.

Claim 13

A composition according to claim 11 wherein the said secondary fuel material is an oil.

Claim 14

A composition according to claim 12 wherein the said secondary fuel material is a diesel fuel oil.

Claim 15

A composition according to claim 11 wherein the said secondary fuel material is a sugar.

Claim 16

A composition according to claim 11 wherein the said secondary fuel material is aluminium powder.

Claim 17

A composition according to claim 1 comprising in addition at least one thickening agent which optionally may be crosslinked.

Claim 18

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said composition assumes a molten form at temperatures in a range from 0° C. to 60° C.

Claim 19

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the said composition assumes a molten form at temperatures in a range from 15° C. to 45° C.

Claim 20

A process for the manufacture of an explosive composition which is pourable, pumpable or flowable at a temperature in the range from -10° C. to +90° C. which process comprises first treating a mixture comprising at least one oxygen-releasing salt and at least one compound selected from a class of melt soluble fuel materials, of which at least a part of said fuel material is capable of forming a melt with at least part of said oxygen-releasing salt material and wherein the temperature at which such a melt is formed is no greater than is the melting point of either of the said fuel material or the said oxygen-releasing salt material, optionally by the application of heat, at a temperature in a range from -10° C. to +90° C. so as to form a melt; optionally dispersing in said melt a thickening agent, which optionally may be crosslinked; secondly incorporating into said melt an amount of at least one oxygen-releasing salt material such that the said incorporated salt material constitutes from 40 to 80% w/w of the said composition and the said melt constitutes from 20 to 60% w/w of the said composition.

Claim 21

A process for the manufacture of an explosive composition which is pourable, pumpable or flowable at a temperature in the range from -10° C. to +90° C. which process comprises first treating a mixture comprising at least one oxygen-releasing salt and at least one compound selected from a class of melt soluble fuel materials, of which at least a part of said fuel material is capable of forming a melt with at least part of said oxygen-releasing salt material and wherein the temperature at which such a melt is formed is no greater than is the melting point of either of the said fuel material or the said oxygen-releasing salt material, optionally by the application of heat, at a temperature in a range from -10° C. to +90° C. so as to form a melt; optionally dispersing in said melt a thickening agent, which optionally may be crosslinked; secondly incorporating into said melt an amount of at least one oxygen-releasing salt material such that the said incorporated salt material constitutes from 40 to 80% w/w of the said composition and the said melt constitutes from 20 to 60% w/w of the said composition.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 19 wherein said mixture is treated at a temperature in a range from 0° C. to 60° C.

Claim 23

A process for loading a borehole with an explosive composition which process comprises transferring an amount of an explosive composition according to claim 1 to said borehole, said composition being characterized in that it is in a pourable, flowable or pumpable form.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 21 comprising the additional step of converting the said composition in the said borehole to a solid form.

Claim 25

A composition according to claim 4 which is a liquid composition at ambient temperatures.

Claim 26

A composition according to claim 7 which is a liquid composition at ambient temperatures.