Cast boosters

Carbon oxychloride, 22 Carbonic dichloride, 22 Carbonyl chloride, 22, 49, 75, 101, 184 5-Carboxy-l,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, 6 Cast booster, 245, 248 Cast explosive, 4-5 Castable explosive, 56, 113 CDNTA, 4, 32, 58, 86, 109, 124, 169, 197. See also 3,5-dinitro-1.2.4-triazole copper salt CE, 4-5,32,58-59,86, 111, 124,173. See also Cast explosive... 

Hercules Incorporated Process and Assembly for Manufacture of Cast Boosters and Booster Product... 

This very brief history relates the development in the commercial explosives industry of an explosive loading and initiation system that emphasized safety. An entire pattern of boreholes can now be loaded with an insensitive blasting agent primed with cast boosters... 

Pourable mixtures of -> TNT and PETN, used for shaped charges and for cast boosters (for initiation of insensitive explosives, such as ANFO). A 50 50 mixture has a density of 1.65 g/cm3 the detonation rate is 7400 m/s = 24300ft/s. 

Trade name for slurry blasting agents distributed in Norway be DYNO - Slurries Slurrit 5 is cartridged in large-hole dimensions. Slurrit 110 and 310 are mixed on site and pumped into the borehole by special trucks. Non cap sensitive, best initiation by cast booster. 

PETN has been largely replaced by RDX, which is thermally more stable. However, PETN is widely used in industry as the major component in a cast booster for initiating blasting agents [1]. 

Aromatic nitro compormds, primarily 2,4,6-TNT, have long use as military explosives and commercial application in cast boosters to initiate insensitive blasting agents. In the laboratory, TNT maybe encountered as prills, flake, or a cast solid ranging in color from light yellow to brown. Acetone solutions of TNT slowly develop a pink color and red is produced with ethanolic KOH. Numerous TLC systems have been described for the identification of TNT, usually with visualization by alcoholic KOH. TLC or GC-MS identification of minor products, other isomers of TNT or DNT, provides information to establish a potential common source. The use of isotope ratio MS is now being explored for this purpose. GC or LC-TEA readily identifies TNT. Combinations of TNT and NH4NO3, known as Amatols , have been used as military explosives to conserve TNT and could be encountered in old military ordnance. 

High explosives—explosive materials that can be caused to detonate by means of a No. 8 Test Detonator. Typical examples include dynamites, cast boosters, and certain emulsions, water gels, and slurries. 

Division 1.1—explosives that have a mass explosion hazard. Typical examples are dynamite, detonator (cap) sensitive emulsions, slurries, water gels, cast boosters, and mass detonating detonators. 

Cast boosters are generally a 50/50 mix of TNT and PETN or RDX. The mixture is melted in a steam kettle and poured into molds to harden. Speaking strictly from a performance standpoint, cast boosters are often preferred over other booster products because of their high detonation pressures, insensitivity, water resistance, and ease of priming. 

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