(19)
(11) EP 0 252 625 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.06.1989 Bulletin 1989/26

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.01.1988 Bulletin 1988/02

(21) Application number: 87305298.9

(22) Date of filing: 15.06.1987
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4C06B 45/00, C06B 47/00, C06B 21/00, F42B 33/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE ES FR IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 07.07.1986 ZA 865028
07.07.1986 ZA 865029
04.11.1986 ZA 868410

(71) Applicant: AECI LIMITED
Johannesburg 2000 Transvaal (ZA)

(72) Inventors:
  • Halliday,Pieter Stephanus Jacobus
    Johannesburg North Randburg Transvaal (ZA)
  • Harris, Allan James
    Knoppigslaagte (ZA)
  • Lubbe, Carl Hermanus
    Johannesburg (ZA)
  • Swartz, Lynette
    St Andrews Bedford View Transvaal (ZA)

(74) Representative: Reid, Thomas James et al
ICI Group Patents Services Dept. PO Box 6 Shire Park Bessemer Road
Welwyn Garden City Herts, AL7 1HD
Welwyn Garden City Herts, AL7 1HD (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Process for the production of an explosive


    (57) In a process for the production of a 'water-in-fuel' or 'melt-in-fuel' emulsion explosive a density-reducing agent is introduced and dispersed in the emulsion at an elevated temperature whereat the emulsion is essentially liquid, the explosive is cartridged and then subsequently cooled by means of a refrigerated fluid so that the continuous phase solidifies and stabilises the dispersion of the density-reducing agent in the explosive. Preferably, when the density-reducing agent comprises gas bubbles the explosive is subjected to an elevated pressure before it is cartridged in order to ensure that the sensitivity of the explosive will not be impaired by disturbance of gas bubbles by any pressure drop which might occur during cartridging.
    The invention also extends to a cartridging machine for cartridging emulsion explosive, the machine comprising a container defining a sealed pressurizable explosives chamber which has an explosives inlet and at least one explosives outlet provided with a positive displacement pump for pumping explosive from the chamber into a cartridge.







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