Ammonium nitrate commercial explosive compositions

Commercial Solvents Corporation Gelled Ammonium Nitrate—Nitroethane Explosive Composition... 

Ammonium nitrate [6484-S2-2J, NH NO, formula wt 80.04, is the most commercially important ammonium compound both Hi terms of production volume and usage. It is the principal component of most iadustrial explosives and nonmilitary blasting compositions however, it is used primarily as a nitrogen fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate does not occur Hi nature because it is very soluble. It was first described Hi 1659 by the German scientist Glauber, who prepared it by reaction of ammonium carbonate and nitric acid. He called it nitrium flammans because its yeUow flame (from traces of sodium) was... 

Before nitrates and particularly ammonium nitrate were readily available commercially, explosives were developed based on chlorates and perchlorates. These also are still used in some countries. In general perchlorates are considered less dangerous than chlorates and therefore preferred. They are easily sensitised, so that in addition to explosives of this type based on nitroglycerine, others have been based on various organic liquids, particularly nitrobodies. History shows that chlorates and perchlorates must be regarded as temperamental substances, liable in bulk to lead to inexplicable accidents. Particularly when mixtures of chlorates and oxidising materials are allowed to become wet and then dry out, conditions can arise in which there is an appreciable sensitiveness to friction and impact. Explosives of this type have an unfortunate record of accidents. They are used, therefore, to a limited extent only, now that safer compositions are available. 

According to an O.S. amendment sheet, the procedure as described [1] is dangerous because the reaction mixture (dicyanodiamide and ammonium nitrate) is similar in composition to commercial blasting explosives. This probably also applies to similar earlier preparations [2]. An earlier procedure which involved heating ammonium thiocyanate, lead nitrate and ammonia demolished a 50 bar autoclave [3], TGA and DTA studies show that air is not involved in the thermal decomposition [4], Explosive properties of the nitrate are detailed [5], An improved process involves catalytic conversion at 90-200°C of a molten mixture of urea and ammonium nitrate to give 92% conversion (on urea) of guanidinium nitrate, recovered by crystallisation. Hazards of alternative processes are listed [6],... 

There are many other ingredients that are added to explosive compositions which in themselves are not explosive but can enhance the power of explosives, reduce the sensitivity, and aid processing. Aluminium powder is frequently added to explosive and propellant compositions to improve their efficiency. Ammonium nitrate (NH4N03) is used extensively in commercial explosives and propellants. It is the most important raw material in the manufacture of commercial explosives and it also provides oxygen in rocket propellant compositions. Some of the properties of ammonium nitrate are presented in Table 2.22. 

Ammonium nitrate prills are often mixed with fuel oil (liquid hydrocarbons) to produce a commercial explosive mixture known as ANFO which is used in quarrying. ANFO can be prepared in a factory by mixing both ingredients in a rotating container and dispensing the product into polyethylene or cardboard tubes. The tubes are then sealed and transported to the place of use. ANFO can also be prepared at the site where the explosive composition is to be used. Fuel oil is poured into a polyethylene bag containing ammonium nitrate and left for some time to allow the oil to soak into the ammonium nitrate. The ANFO mixture is then poured from the polyethylene bag into the hole (i.e. shot-hole) where the explosive mixture is detonated. 

A similar test has been developed in the USA (according the deformation of a lead block, using commercial caps with 0.4-0.45 g PETN). It is advisable to classify according to test results and not, as was the custom in the USA, by the classification of NCN according to the explosive composition. As indicated above, ANFO s are not cap sensitive mixtures of finely ground ammonium nitrate containing only 2% instead of 6% of oil or wax can, however, be cap sensitive. 

Commercial Solvents Corporation Ammonium Nitrate Explosive Gel Composition and Its Preparation... 

Appendix 2 — Secondary High Explosives A2.1 TNT A2.2 Nitrostarch A2.3 Tetryl A2.4 RDX A2.5 Nitroglycerin A2.6 Commercial Dynamite A2.7 Military Dynamite A2.8 Amatol A2.9 PETN A2.10 Blasting Gelatin A2.11 Composition B A2.12 Composition C4 A2.13 Ammonium Nitrate Colophon... 

Belity (Bellites). These are extensively used commercial mining and blasting explosives. The following compositions are used 35 percent ammonium nitrate and 65 percent dinitrobenzene, 87 percent ammonium nitrate and 13 percent dinitrobenzene, and 80 percent ammonium nitrate, 12 percent trinitroxylene, and 8 percent dinitrobenzene. 

Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is used extensively in commercial explosives and propellants. It is the most important raw material in the manufacture of commercial explosives and it also provides oxygen in rocket propellant compositions. Some of the properties of ammonium nitrate are presented in Table 2.27. 

The latest significant development in industrial explosives actually was invented only a few years after slurries, but full commercialization has occurred only within about the last fifteen years. Water-in-oil emulsion explosives involve essentially the same ingredients that slurry composite explosives do, but in a different physical form. Aqueous solutions of oxidizer salts, primarily ammonium nitrate, are emulsified into a relatively small amount of oil and emulsifier. Because of oxygen-balance constraints the volume ratio of the two liquid phases is about 90 10 for the aqueous and oil phases, respectively. This... 

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