EXPLOSIVES

EXPLOSIVES
Types
Types and
Properties
Properties
WHAT IS AN EXPLOSIVES
WHAT IS AN EXPLOSIVES
?
?
Chemical compounds or mixtures that are
initiated by
HEAT
HEAT,
SHOCK
SHOCK or a
combination of both.
Decomposes or explodes very rapidly
and Violently
Produces a rapid release of
HEAT
HEAT and
large quantities of High Pressure Gas High Pressure Gas
Primary Reaction Zone Primary Reaction Zone
Expanding Gases
Path of Detonation
Detonation Process
Detonation Process
Detonation Process
Detonation Process
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
Low Explosives Low Explosives
(Deflagration)
Black Powder
Gun Powder
HIGH EXPLOSIVE HIGH EXPLOSIVE
(Detonation) (Detonation)
Initiation/Primary Initiation/Primary
Lead Azide
Mercury Fulminate
SECONDARY SECONDARY
TNT
ANFO
Emulsions
TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES
Explosives
IDEAL
IDEAL
(Molecular)
TNT
PETN
NG
Lead Azide
NON-IDEAL
(Composite)
ANFO
Emulsions
Heavy ANFO

$
$
EXPENSIVE
EXPENSIVE
$
$

$ $
COST EFFECTIVE
COST EFFECTIVE $ $

$
$
Comparative Build Up
Definitions
Definitions That Apply To Explosive
Manufacturing

PRECURSORS
PRECURSORS - Non-explosive raw materials
used in the preparation of a BLASTING AGENT
(Ammonium Nitrate, Fuel Oil, Emulsion Matrix}

BLASTING AGENTS
BLASTING AGENTS - Term used to describe
Non-Ideal Explosive mixtures
1. Prepared from Precursors
2. Not Cap sensitive
3. Manufactured on Site
Blasting Agent Precursors
Ammonium Nitrate (AN)
Ammonium Nitrate (AN)
Principle component (oxidiser )
Properties: Low Moisture,
Free Flowing,
Free Flowing, Oil Absorbency,
Low Density,
Low Density, Good Friability, N o n-C a k I n g
Cycles above and below 35 - 37
o
C
Decompose around 250
o
C release O
2
Can detonate under extreme conditions
Blasting Agent Precursors
Fuel Oil (FO)
Fuel Oil (FO)
Fuel component (Distillate)
Flashpoint greater than 61
o
C

Fuels such as petrol or kerosene must

Fuels such as petrol or kerosene must
never be used (flashpoints below 61
never be used (flashpoints below 61
o
o
C)
C)
making them too volatile
making them too volatile
Blasting Agent Precursors
Emulsion (Matrix)
Emulsion (Matrix)
Viscous liquid mixture of oxidiser/water
solution suspended in fuel
Stabilised with
emulsifiers
emulsifiers

Dangerous Good until density is reduced

Dangerous Good until density is reduced
by adding sufficient ANFO or by Gas or
by adding sufficient ANFO or by Gas or
solid sensitisation
solid sensitisation
Physical Properties
of Explosives
of Explosives
Density

How close or small the particles are the higher

How close or small the particles are the higher
the density and greater the weight
the density and greater the weight
Measured as grams per cubic centimetre (g/cc)

Weight compared to water (1.00g/cc) float or sink

Weight compared to water (1.00g/cc) float or sink

Higher density explosives is normally suited to

Higher density explosives is normally suited to
HARD massive rock and low density explosives
HARD massive rock and low density explosives
more suitable to SOFT jointed rock
more suitable to SOFT jointed rock
Determines the weight of explosive per blasthole
Critical Density
Critical Density is when the product is so
dense that there is not sufficient gas voids for
the creation of hot spots to allow detonation
Explosives density and sensitivity are related
Deadpressing occurs when gas voids are
destroyed (by abuse, shock waves) reducing
sensitivity
SENSITIVITY
SENSITIVITY
Explosives require the creation of hot spots to
maintain the reaction
Types of Test
Gap sensitivity
Drop Test
Minimum Primer
SENSITIVITY
SENSITIVITY
LEAD
AZIDE
NG DYNAMITE CAP
SENSITIVE
EMULSION
BULK
EMULSION
Touch
Heat
No2
Detonator
No6
Detonator
No8
Detonator
Booster
BLASTHOLE LOADING
BLASTHOLE LOADING
DENSITIES
DENSITIES
BLASTHOLE
DIAMETER
BLASTHOLE
DIAMETER
EXPLOSIVE WEIGHT PER METRE
(mm) (inches) 0.8 0.85 0.9 1 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3
89 3 4.99 5.30 5.61 6.24 6.86 7.17 7.48 7.80 8.11
102 4 6.55 6.96 7.37 8.19 9.01 9.42 9.83 10.24 10.65
108 4 7.35 7.81 8.27 9.18 10.10- 10.56 11.02 11.48 11.94
114 4 8.19 8.70 9.21 10.23 11.26 11.77 12.28 12.79 13.30
121 4 9.22 9.80 10.38 11.53 12.68 13.26 13.83 14.41 14.99
127 5 10.16 10.80 11.43 12.70 13.97 14.61 15.24 15.88 16.51
130 5 1/8 10.65 11.31 11.98 13.31 14.64 15.30 15.97 16.63 17.30
152 6 14.55 15.46 16.37 18.19 20.01 20.92 21.83 22.74 23.65
159 6 15.93 16.92 17.92 19.91 21.90 22.89 23.89 24.88 25.88
165 6 17.15 18.22 19.29 21.44 23.58 24.65 25.72 26.80 27.87
187 7 3/8 22.03 23.40 24.78 27.53 30.29 31.66 33.04 34.42 35.80
203 8 25.96 27.58 29.20 32.45 35.69 37.32 38.94 40.56 42.18
210 8 27.78 29.52 31.25 34.72 38.20 39.93 41.67 43.41 45.14
229 9 33.03 35.10 37.16 41.29 45.42 47.49 49.55 51.62 53.68
251 9 7/8 39.69 42.17 44.65 49.61 54.57 57.05 59.53 62.01 64.49
267 10 44.91 47.71 50.52 56.13 61.75 64.55 67.36 70.17 72.97
270 10 5/8 45.92 48.79 51.66 57.40 63.14 66.01 68.88 71.75 74.62
279 11 49.03 52.10 55.16 61.29 67.42 70.49 73.55 76.62 79.68
286 11 51.53 54.75 57.97 64.41 70.85 74.07 77.29 80.51 83.73
311 12 60.93 64.73 68.54 76.16 83.77 87.58 91.39 95.20 99.01
349 13 76.73 81.52 86.32 95.91 105.50 110.29 115.09 119.88 124.68
381 15 91.44 97.16 102.87 114.30 125.73 131.45 137.16 142.88 148.59
432 17 117.56 124.91 132.25 146.95 161.64 168.99 176.34 183.69 191.03
WATER RESISTANCE
WATER RESISTANCE

Explosives penetrated by water have their

Explosives penetrated by water have their
efficiency impaired
efficiency impaired

Water resistance depends on:

Explosives ability to withstand water
Packaging of product
Type of water
Static (low pressure)
Dynamic (high pressure)
Critical Diameter
Critical diameter is the minimum diameter
that a detonation will occur or continue
Caused/Determined
By loss of energy from the edge effects of the detonation process
Ideal Explosives small critical diameter
Non-ideal Explosives much larger
Critical Diameter
Chemical Stability
An explosives ability to remain chemically
unchanged under specified storage conditions
(shelf life)
Ideal Explosives
Ideal Explosives
Excellent (molecular
Excellent (molecular
bonding)
bonding)
Non
Non
-
-
Ideal Explosives
Ideal Explosives
Less stable (Bonding
Less stable (Bonding
reliant on chemical
reliant on chemical
additive)
additive)
Factors Affecting Chemical
Stability

Temperature extremes
Temperature extremes

Poor quality raw material

Poor quality raw material

Contamination
Contamination
Poor storage facilities

Combination of the above may accelerate

Combination of the above may accelerate
deterioration
deterioration
Fume Characteristics
Gases resulting from detonation
Principal Gases
Non-Toxic
Toxic
Toxic
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen
Nitrogen Oxides
Nitrogen Oxides
Water (steam)
Causes
Water Penetration
Lack of Confinement
Lack of Confinement
Poor Mixi
n
ng Not Oxygen Balanced
Velocity of Detonation
Velocity of Detonation

The speed at which a detonation occurs

The speed at which a detonation occurs

Factors that influence VoD

Factors that influence VoD
Product type Particle size (molecular, liquid, solid)
Explosive Diameter Slows closer to critical diameter
Degree of confinement Varies in the blasthole and patterns
Degree of Priming Steady state VoD or overdrive is
achieved faster with with high energy
primers
Temperature Higher product temperature the faster
the reaction
Due to the above variables VoD is not always a good indicator as Due to the above variables VoD is not always a good indicator as to to
product performance product performance
The application of
detonation pressure to the
blasthole wall as the
reaction zone travels
along the charge column
that is responsible for the
primary shock wave
Detonation Pressure
Detonation Pressure
Blasthole Pressure
Blasthole Pressure
Pressure applied by the expanding gases to
the walls of the blasthole and jointing
Explosive Energy/Strength
Explosive Energy/Strength
Field performance has shown that fragmentation
and rock displacement are not exclusively
reflected in the numerical values of explosives
energy/strength
Relative to
ANFO
ANFO
(100%)
10kg
10Lt
Not all ingredients
of emulsions
contribute to reaction
Higher densities of emulsions
put more product into the
volume area
ANFO Emulsion
ANFO Emulsion
RWS
RWS
RBS
RBS
Contains a Core of PETN
Sizes Vary but generally 3.6g,
5g or10g per metre
VoD 6400 m/s
Initiated by: No 8 caps
Detonating Cord
(10g should not be initiated with
cords less than 5g)
Purpose:
Used as surface and
Used as surface and
down
down
-
-
hole initiating lines
hole initiating lines
Detonating Cords
Contains SENSITISED emulsion
in wrapped cartridges
Sizes Vary from 25mm to
80mm diameters
VoD dependant on product
type and diameter
Initiated by: No 8 caps
Detonating Cord (10g)

Density 1.
Density 1.
6
6
g/cc
g/cc
Purpose:
Used for wet and
Used for wet and
small hole diameter blasting,
small hole diameter blasting,
On occasions may be used as a
On occasions may be used as a
booster or primer
booster or primer
Emulsion Cartridges
Bulk Emulsion Blends
Emulsion and ANFO blends are water resistance
gassed bulk emulsions designed to be pumped
from a bulk delivery truck through a delivery
hose to the bottom of the blasthole
Minimum Hole diameter depends on the product
and blend (75 - 98mm)
VoD dependant on product type, density, blend,
diameter, confinement, primer type
Initiated by:Boosters
Density can be 1.00 g/cc to 1.25 g/cc Density can be 1.00 g/cc to 1.25 g/cc
Purpose: An effective Blasting Agent for wet An effective Blasting Agent for wet
holes that allows complete coupling in the holes that allows complete coupling in the
blasthole, allows for variable density across the blasthole, allows for variable density across the
shot and added ANFO can modify explosive shot and added ANFO can modify explosive
performance if required performance if required
Emulsions
Essentially a liquid oxidiser phase Suspended in a
Continuous fuel phase
Continuous fuel phase with an emulsifier added to
the fuel phase to prevent separation.
Oxidiser Phase Oxidiser Phase
Suspended Suspended
Fuel Phase Fuel Phase
Continuous Continuous
(surrounds the oxidiser) (surrounds the oxidiser)
ANFO mixed with emulsion matrix in blends
where the majority of the mixture is ANFO.
Heavy ANFO are ANFO based explosives
with higher detonation properties and better
water resistance, they are augred from a
bulk delivery truck from the top of the
blasthole
Minimum Hole diameter depends on the
product and blend (89mm - 127mm)
VoD dependant on product type, density,
blend, diameter, confinement, primer type
Initiated by:Boosters
Density can be 0.85 g/cc to 1.30 g/cc Density can be 0.85 g/cc to 1.30 g/cc
Purpose: Emulsion provides a water Emulsion provides a water
resistant coating to the ANFO, this increases resistant coating to the ANFO, this increases
the bulk density, hence higher energy the bulk density, hence higher energy
Heavy ANFO