AU2004200628A1 - Explosive composition - Google Patents
Explosive composition Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2004200628A1 AU2004200628A1 AU2004200628A AU2004200628A AU2004200628A1 AU 2004200628 A1 AU2004200628 A1 AU 2004200628A1 AU 2004200628 A AU2004200628 A AU 2004200628A AU 2004200628 A AU2004200628 A AU 2004200628A AU 2004200628 A1 AU2004200628 A1 AU 2004200628A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- density
- explosive composition
- hulls
- explosive
- component
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 title claims description 71
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title claims description 65
- 241000209094 Oryza Species 0.000 claims description 26
- 235000007164 Oryza sativa Nutrition 0.000 claims description 26
- 235000009566 rice Nutrition 0.000 claims description 26
- PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(3-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)acetic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC1=CC=CC(Br)=C1F PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 claims description 8
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000295 fuel oil Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002480 mineral oil Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000010446 mineral oil Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000894007 species Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000004067 bulking agent Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000003995 emulsifying agent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000007762 w/o emulsion Substances 0.000 description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 108010082495 Dietary Plant Proteins Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 229910002651 NO3 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium nitrate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002283 diesel fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium nitrate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- -1 AN nitrate Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000017060 Arachis glabrata Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000105624 Arachis hypogaea Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000010777 Arachis hypogaea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000018262 Arachis monticola Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 102100030154 CDC42 small effector protein 1 Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 101000794295 Homo sapiens CDC42 small effector protein 1 Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 240000007049 Juglans regia Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000009496 Juglans regia Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitrate Chemical compound [O-][N+]([O-])=O NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 241000209140 Triticum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000021307 Triticum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000482268 Zea mays subsp. mays Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000021374 legumes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 231100000252 nontoxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000003000 nontoxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000020232 peanut Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920005652 polyisobutylene succinic anhydride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011369 resultant mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000010344 sodium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004317 sodium nitrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004449 solid propellant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000638 solvent extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000020234 walnut Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Liquid Carbonaceous Fuels (AREA)
Description
i 'o Regulation 3.2
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT
(ORIGINAL)
Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: Sasol Roche Blasting Services (Proprietary) Limited BELLAIRS, Peter Grant KEITH, Geoffrey Edward DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000.
Explosive composition Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2003900811 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P:~\OPERWMKRSPECIU00390081 I-omplcl.doc.-I 7/02/04 -1- EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to explosive compositions which include a density controlling component in the form of hulls of de-hulled plant grains. The invention also relates to a method of preparing such explosive compositions.
BACKGROUND ART Explosive compositions essentially comprise an oxidiser component and a fuel component.
The oxidiser component often comprises an ammonium nitrate (hereinafter referred to as AN) compound and the fuel often comprises a fuel oil (hereinafter referred to as FO) such as diesel or the like. A combination of AN and FO is known as ANFO and a 94:6 mass ratio of AN:FO provides an explosive composition with a near perfect oxygen balance.
ANFO is not water resistant and to allow ANFO to be used in damp or wet conditions, the ANFO may be coated with a water-in-oil emulsion. ANFO coated in such an emulsion is known as heavy ANFO or an emulsion explosive. The emulsion may comprise a discontinuous phase of an aqueous oxidiser component dispersed in a continuous phase of an oil component. An emulsifier is usually required to stabilise the water-in-oil emulsion.
It is well known to reduce the density of an explosive composition by adding a density controlling component to the explosive composition. Explosive compositions with a significantly reduced density below 0,8 grams/cc, are suited to be used in conditions where less shock energy or vibrancy is required. By reducing the density of the explosive composition: A higher volume of the explosive composition can be used to obtain a better explosive energy distribution in the borehole, which is advantageous over a situation where a lower volume of a more dense explosive composition is located in the base of a bore hole producing a poor explosive energy distribution; or P:\0PER\MKR\SPECI\2D039008I I.onplm.do-I710204 -2- It is possible to replace a higher density explosive of a certain volume with a volume of a lower density explosive, to effect a change in energy partitioning, more appropriate for a particular application.
Many different types of density controlling components are known, and such known components are, for example plant-derived matter such as saw dust and nutshells, or nonplant derived matter such as microballoons or polystyrene spheres.
US Patent 5,409,556 discloses the use of expanded grain, such as expanded popcorn, expanded rice or expanded wheat to reduce the density of nitrate based explosives such as ANFO, heavy ANFO and emulsion explosives.
US Patent 4,875,950 discloses an explosive composition which includes certain bulking agents, comprising from 1-20wt% of a fibrous vegetable protein additive, said bulking agents having a bulk density of from 0,1 to 0,6 g/cc and said explosive composition having a bulk density of from 0,5 to 1,1 g/cc. Vegetable protein in the form of legumes (e.g.
peanut shells and walnut shells) are disclosed.
One commercially available explosive composition with a reduced density comprises 16 to 22wt% rice hulls, 30 to 50wt% ANFO and 20 to 40wt% water-in-oil emulsion. The rice hulls used in this composition have a density of about 0,16 to 0,17g/cc allowing for the preparation of explosive compositions with a density in the range of 0,45 g/cc to 0,65 g/cc.
If such explosive compositions with densities of below 0,45g/cc are to be prepared, more than 26 wt% of the bulking agent in the form of rice hulls are required. This is problematic because the resultant explosive lacks sufficient explosive power to efficiently break and move soft or well-jointed rock. This is due to both the increased volume of rice hulls and reduced explosive components, together with the increased oxygen negativity of the explosive composition, further reducing the explosive power output. The only method available to generate sufficient explosive energy in these cases is to increase the volume of low density bulk explosive, per unit volume of material being blasted. This then negates the efficiencies offered in using the lighter density explosives.
P:\OPERWtKRSPECI\200390081 Iconomplcc.doc. 17/02/04 -3- In formulating explosive compositions with a reduced density it has always been problematic to identify a density reducing bulking agent which is easy to handle, blends easily, is non-toxic, is almost inert, does not effect emulsion stability, does not contain free water, is cost efficient, to name a few.
It has now been found that if hulls of de-hulled rice are treated to remove finer material therefrom, then the resultant treated hulls have a lower density than before. Such treated rice hulls have now been found to be suitable to be used as the density controlling component in the preparation of stable explosive compositions, especially with a density of less than 0,5 g/cc, and which do not have an unacceptable high concentration of the rice hulls.
The effect of the change in density of the treated rice hulls on the explosive composition could not have been predicted since the density of a multi component bulk explosive mix is not linearly related to the density of the bulking agent. This is due to for example, the porosity created by the AN prills and rice hulls. The treatment of the rice hulls could also have a negative influence on characteristics such as ease of blending, stability and the like.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided an explosive composition comprising a mixture of an oxidiser component; a fuel component; and a density controlling component in the form of hulls of de-hulled plant grain, which hulls have a density of less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
The hulls of de-hulled plant grain preferably comprise rice hulls with a density of less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
Preferably the rice hulls have been treated to remove the rice hull fines to reduce the density of the rice hulls to less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
P:OPER\MKR\SPEC1\200390081 I-complcc.doc-17/02/04 -4- The explosive composition may have a density of less than 1,1 g/cc preferably below and more preferably from 0,49g/cc to 0,25g/cc. In one embodiment the density of the explosive composition may be 0,45g/cc or below.
The density controlling component is preferably added to comprise less than 36wt%, preferably less than 30wt% of the explosive composition, or more preferably below 26wt%. Most preferably less than 19wt% of the density controlling component is used to prepare an explosive composition with a density of less than The oxidiser component may comprise any suitable component. Preferably it comprises an ammonium nitrate (AN) product, such as prilled AN or porous prilled AN (PPAN).
The fuel component may comprise any suitable fuel such as a liquid or solid fuel. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the fuel component comprises a liquid fuel, preferably an oil, preferably a mineral oil, for example diesel.
In one embodiment of the invention the combined oxidiser and fuel components may comprise ANFO which is a combination of ammonium nitrate (AN) and fuel oil In one embodiment of the invention the combined oxidiser and fuel components may comprise heavy ANFO which is a combination of ANFO with an emulsion. The emulsion may comprise an aqueous emulsion of an oxidiser component (preferably a salt such as AN or a combination of salts, such as AN, calcium nitrate and sodium nitrate) as a discontinuous phase in a continuous oil phase. The emulsion may also include an emulsifier, for example a PIBSA derived emulsifier.
In one embodiment of the invention the explosive composition may comprise an emulsion explosive. In another embodiment of the invention the explosive composition may comprise a watergel (an oil in water) explosive.
P:\OPERMKR\SECIR20039008 I-plclc.do -17/02/04 According to another aspect of the present invention a method of preparing an explosive composition comprises mixing together an oxidiser component; a fuel component; and a density controlling component in the form of hulls of de-hulled plant grain, which hulls have a density of less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
The invention also relates to an explosive composition prepared by the method as set out above.
The invention will now be further described by means of the following non-limiting examples: Comparative Example 1 An explosive composition with a density of 0.45g/cc was prepared by mixing the following components together (including rice hulls of a density of 0,16g/cc): 1.1 An amount of 435grams of an oxidising component in the form of AN nitrate prills of 0.78g/cc.
1.2 Diesel fuel oil in an amount of 9grams.
1.3 An amount of 260grams rice hulls. The rice hulls had a density of 0,16g/cc.
1.4 An amount of 296grams water-in-oil emulsion, which emulsion is an ammonium nitrate (AN) emulsion with the typical composition of 77.18 wt% AN; 15.82 wt% water; 5.4 wt% diesel and 1.6 wt% emulsifier with a density of 1.33g/cc.
The prills were placed in a stainless steel bowl and the diesel was added thereto. The mixture was stirred in order to get a good mix of the prills and diesel. To this was added the water-in-oil of emulsion, and the resultant mixture was stirred to obtain a uniform consistency. The rice hulls were then blended with this mixture until a uniform consistency was obtained.
P:NOPERWMKR\SPECI\2039008 I I ompldoc- 7102/04 -6- The explosive composition had a density of 0,45g/cc and produced energy of approximately 2,5Mj/kg, derived by using an energy of 3.7Mj/kg for 0.8g/cc ANFO and 2.9Mj/kg for the 1.33g/cc density emulsion, and assuming that the rice hulls are thermochemically inert. This equates to a relative weight strength of 0,68 and relative volume strength or bulk strength of 0,38 compared to ANFO.
Example 2 An explosive composition with a density of 0,45g/cc was prepared by mixing together the following components (including rice hulls of a density of 0,11 g/cc): 2.1 An amount of 488grams of an oxidising component in the form of AN prills of density of 0.78g/cc.
2.2 Diesel fuel oil in an amount of 1 Ograms.
2.3 An amount of 170grams rice hulls with a density of 0.11 g/cc.
2.4 An amount of 332grams of the same emulsion as in example 1.
The explosive composition was prepared in the same way as set out in example 1 and had a density of 0,45g/cc. The explosive has an energy output of approximately 2.81 Mj/kg which equates to a weight strength of 0.76 and a bulk strength of 0.43 compared to ANFO.
The explosive composition of Example 2 has the following advantages over the explosive composition of Comparative Example 1: Although the densities are the same for both compositions, the energy provided by the composition of Example 2 is 11.2% higher than that of Comparative Example 1 (2.81 Mj/kg versus 2.50Mj/kg).
S The relevant weight strength of the composition of Comparative Example 1 is 11.7% lower than that of Example 2.
The relevant bulk strength of the composition of Comparative Example 1 is 13.1 lower than that of Example 2.
P:\OPER\MKRSPECI\00390081 Io-plc.doc-I7/02/04 -7- The composition of Example 2 will produce better blasting outcomes than that of Example 1 for the same given volume of explosives.
Claims (14)
1. An explosive composition comprising a mixture of an oxidiser component; a fuel component; and a density controlling component in the form of hulls of de-hulled plant grain, which hulls have a density of less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
2. The explosive of claim 1 wherein the hulls of de-hulled plant grain comprise rice hulls with a density of less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
3. The explosive composition of claim 2 wherein the rice hulls have been treated to remove the rice hull fines to reduce the density of the rice hulls to less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
4. The explosive composition of claim 1 which has a density of less than 1,1 g/cc.
The explosive composition of claim 4 which has a density of 0,45g/cc or below.
6. The explosive composition of claim 1 which includes less than 19wt% of the density controlling component to provide an explosive composition with a density of less than 0,55g/cc.
7. The explosive composition of claim 1 wherein the oxidiser component comprises an ammonium nitrate (AN) product.
8. The explosive composition of claim 7 wherein the AN product comprises porous prilled AN (PPAN).
9. The explosive composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel component comprises a mineral oil. The explosive composition of claim 9 wherein the mineral oil comprises diesel.
P:'OPERWKR\SPECI\2003900811 -omplee.doc-17/02/04 -9-
11. The explosive composition of claim 1 wherein the combined oxidiser and fuel components may comprise ANFO which is a combination of ammonium nitrate (AN) and fuel oil (FO).
12. The explosive composition of claim 11 wherein the ANFO comprises heavy ANFO which is a combination of ANFO with an emulsion.
13. A method of preparing an explosive composition comprises mixing together an oxidiser component; a fuel component; and a density controlling component in the form of hulls of de-hulled plant grain, which hulls have a density of less than or equal to 0,14g/cc.
14. An explosive composition prepared by the method of claim 13. DATED this 17th day of February, 2004 Sasol Roche Blasting Services (Proprietary) Limited By DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2004200628A AU2004200628A1 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2004-02-17 | Explosive composition |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2003900811A AU2003900811A0 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2003-02-24 | Explosive composition with density controlling component |
| AU2003900811 | 2003-02-24 | ||
| AU2004200628A AU2004200628A1 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2004-02-17 | Explosive composition |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2004200628A1 true AU2004200628A1 (en) | 2004-09-09 |
Family
ID=34378416
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2004200628A Abandoned AU2004200628A1 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2004-02-17 | Explosive composition |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2004200628A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7938920B2 (en) | 2003-01-28 | 2011-05-10 | Waldock Kevin H | Explosive composition, method of making an explosive composition, and method of using an explosive composition |
-
2004
- 2004-02-17 AU AU2004200628A patent/AU2004200628A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7938920B2 (en) | 2003-01-28 | 2011-05-10 | Waldock Kevin H | Explosive composition, method of making an explosive composition, and method of using an explosive composition |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| TC | Change of applicant's name (sec. 104) |
Owner name: ROCHE BLASTING SERVICES PTY LTD. Free format text: FORMER NAME: SASOL ROCHE BLASTING SERVICES (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED |
|
| MK1 | Application lapsed section 142(2)(a) - no request for examination in relevant period | ||
| NB | Applications allowed - extensions of time section 223(2) |
Free format text: THE TIME IN WHICH TO REQUEST EXAMINATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 17 APR 2008. |
|
| MK4 | Application lapsed section 142(2)(d) - no continuation fee paid for the application |