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(11) | EP 0 252 625 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(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. |