Aluminium ammonium nitrate slurries

Ammonium nitrate slurries can be either prepared in the factory and loaded into cartridges or mixed on site and pumped down the shot-holes. Ammonium nitrate slurries consist of a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium (about 65%) and other nitrates (i.e. methylamine nitrate MAN ). This solution also contains additional amounts of undissolved nitrates together with a fuel. The fuel is generally aluminium powder but water-soluble fuels such as glycol may also be employed. The slurries can be made more sensitive by adding either TNT, PETN,... 

The first and still successful dense slurry was sensitised with TNT and therefore consisted of a suspension of TNT and solid ammonium nitrate in a solution of ammonium and sodium nitrates gelled with cross-linked guar gum. The TNT is preferably in the form of small pellets. No further fuel than the TNT is essential but aluminium can be added for increased... 

TNT. Aluminium is also used in some commercial blasting explosives, particularly in water-based slurry explosives, which contain a high percentage of ammonium nitrate. 

The addition of aluminium powder in a form of foil, flakes oi granules can make slurry without nitro compounds. Tlte patent by I>avis, Fassnacht, Kirst and Noran [90] gives slurry explosives composed of ammonium and sodium nitrate, aluminium and water. An emulsifier is added to help the presence of air bubbles. Tlie fact that aluminium can react with the strongly oxidizing ingredients of the explo.sive mixture can be dangerous. 

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