EMULSION EXPLOSIVE

An emulsion is made up of a mixture of two liquids that do not normally mix with one another, as one liquid is oil-based, and the other liquid is water-based. When the appropriate emulsifier is present and enough mechanical energy is exerted, the two phases can be forced to blend together. Emulsion explosives are, therefore, prepared in the form of water-in-oil emulsions. The internal phase is composed of a solution of oxidizer salt suspended as microscopically fine droplets, which are surrounded by a continuous fuel phase. An emulsifying agent stabilizes the emulsion thus formed against liquid separation. Since each microcell of the oxidizer is coated with an oily exterior, the emulsion has excellent water resistance and does not rely on a pack-age for their ability to function efficiently in water. A bulking agent such as ultra fine air bubbles or glass microspheres may be then dispersed throughout the basic emulsion matrix, which provides for density control and sensitivity. What makes a water-in-oil emulsion particularly effi-cient is that the major component by weight is mixed into the minor component. This not only results in a finely dispersed, homogenous mixture, but one in which the oil phases constitutes the outside or continuous phase. It is this feature that imparts excellent water resistance to emulsion type explosives.

The process begins with ingredient handling that involves receiving the raw materials and conducting acceptance procedures to check for proper quality and performance, unloading or handling the ingredient to place in proper storage and preparing the raw materials for use in the process. Two ingredient streams are prepared for feeding to the production module. These are ammonium nitrate solution, and an oil phase mixture.

Ammonium nitrate solution will be made on site form chemically pure AN and water, and maybe acetic acid and thiocyanate depending upon the type of emulsion produced, to the appropriate quality control specifications.. The ammonium nitrate solution will be pumped from a stainless steel the make-up tank to a stainless steel Ammonium Nitrate Storage Tank. When required, the ammonium nitrate solution will be pumped to the manufacturing module for emulsion pro-duction.

The oil phase mixture is a blend of mineral oil and liquid emulsifier. The mineral oil is blended with the appropriate emulsifier, verified by analysis and subsequently transferred to the appro-priate fuel blend storage tank and maintained at ambient temperature until required for production. When required, the fuel blend is heated to approximately 50ºC before use in the manufac-turing process.