(57) Explosives that are sensitized blends of a water-in-oil emulsion and AN particles,
such as AN or ANFO prills, have improved stability when their structure hinders the
loss of water from the aqueous emulsion phase and transportation of such water across
the oil phase to the AN particles. Use of an anionic emulsifying agent comprising
a fatty acid salt, e.g., as formed in situ during the formation of the emulsion, is
the preferred way of forming such a blend-stabilizing structure. Emulsion/ANFO and
emulsion/AN blends stabilized in this manner make satisfactory storage-stable packaged
products. Emulsion/AN blends made with a new low-viscosity emulsion containing essentially
all of the oil required to oxygen-balance the blend and a proportionately larger amount
of anionic emulsifying agent to stabilize the emulsion structure constitute preferred
bulk products owing to their greater adaptability to pumping. Pumping the stabilized
blends through an annular stream of aqueous lubricating liquid is advantageous.
|
|
