The present invention provides an explosive method that improves on methods currently employed. The present invention provides for a safer, less expensive, and more portable explosive device. The elements of the present invention replace dynamite or similar explosives currently used in avalanche control and bore hole blasting of rock or other solids. The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method providing a much safer alternative employing a highly confined combustion reaction of a flammable vapor, whereas dynamite is a category 1.1 high explosive imbued with all the attendant safety and security concerns. The method of the present invention provides for an improved and safer method of blasting employing a highly confined combustion reaction of a flammable vapor instead of conventional explosives currently used.

A low-cost, reliable and easy to use kit for neutralizing surface exposed landmine and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian demining is based on a liquid fuel and a solid/soluble fuel. Both fuels are premeasured in separate, sealed containers. The addition of a small quantity of solid/soluble fuel into the liquid creates an explosive. The resulting mixture is capable of detonating with a standard No. 8 blasting cap. The solid/soluble fuel can be in the form of a powder, tablet, or its saturated solution in water. The solid/soluble fuel is hexamethylenetetramine. The liquid fuel, nitromethane, is provided in premeasured quantities. User is provided instructions for choosing the appropriate quantity of liquid fuel, the corresponding solid/soluble fuel required, the method of mixing, placement and detonation of the kits. Also disclosed is a simple wooden stand to hold the bottle of explosive in place. A special fuel, liquid 2-ethylhexylnitrate, is provided to desensitize the mixed and sensitized explosive.

A low-cost, reliable and easy to use kit for neutralizing surface exposed landmine and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian demining is based on a liquid fuel and a solid/soluble fuel. Both fuels are premeasured in separate, sealed containers. The addition of a small quantity of solid/soluble fuel into the liquid creates an explosive. The resulting mixture is capable of detonating with a standard No. 8 blasting cap. The solid/soluble fuel can be in the form of a powder, tablet, or its saturated solution in water. The solid/soluble fuel is hexamethylenetetramine. The liquid fuel, nitromethane, is provided in premeasured quantities. User is provided instructions for choosing the appropriate quantity of liquid fuel, the corresponding solid/soluble fuel required, the method of mixing, placement and detonation of the kits. Also disclosed is a simple wooden stand to hold the bottle of explosive in place. A special fuel, liquid 2-ethylhexylnitrate, is provided to desensitize the mixed and sensitized explosive.

A method for making high density fuels including, heating a renewable plant oil, triglyceride, or fatty acid with at least one first acid catalyst to generate a first mixture of alkyladamantanes, increasing reaction time or adding at least one second catalysts to a first mixture of alkyladamantanes to produce a second alkyladamantane mixture, separating methyl, ethyl, propyl, and/or butyl adamantanes from a second alkyladamantane mixture to produce a third adamantane mixture to produce fuels.

A method for making high density fuels including, heating a renewable plant oil, triglyceride, or fatty acid with at least one first acid catalyst to generate a first mixture of alkyladamantanes, increasing reaction time or adding at least one second catalysts to a first mixture of alkyladamantanes to produce a second alkyladamantane mixture, separating methyl, ethyl, propyl, and/or butyl adamantanes from a second alkyladamantane mixture to produce a third adamantane mixture to produce fuels.

A method to generate dense, multi-cyclic diamondoid fuels from bio-derived sesquiterpenes. This process can be conducted with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and produces the targeted isomers in high yield. The resulting multi-cyclic structures impart significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature/high altitude. Moreover, bio-derived sesquiterpenes can be produced from renewable biomass sources. Use of these fuels will decrease Navy dependence on fossil fuels and will also reduce net carbon emissions.

A method to generate dense, multi-cyclic diamondoid fuels from bio-derived sesquiterpenes. This process can be conducted with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and produces the targeted isomers in high yield. The resulting multi-cyclic structures impart significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature/high altitude. Moreover, bio-derived sesquiterpenes can be produced from renewable biomass sources. Use of these fuels will decrease Navy dependence on fossil fuels and will also reduce net carbon emissions.

The use of exploding targets has become a popular practice aid in the military, law enforcement and consumer levels. The inventor has conceived and reduced to practice, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a safe explosive target formulation that is initiated by low-velocity impact. This formulation represents a binary explosive in that the fuel and oxidizer are packaged separately until directly prior to use. Safe, explosive targets for high velocity applications are common. A formulation for low velocity projectile applications which employs an aluminum/magnesium alloy fuel and a potassium perchlorate/ammonium nitrate oxidizer is described.

The use of exploding targets has become a popular practice aid in the military, law enforcement and consumer levels. The inventor has conceived and reduced to practice, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a safe explosive target formulation that is initiated by low-velocity impact. This formulation represents a binary explosive in that the fuel and oxidizer are packaged separately until directly prior to use. Safe, explosive targets for high velocity applications are common. A formulation for low velocity projectile applications which employs an aluminum/magnesium alloy fuel and a potassium perchlorate/ammonium nitrate oxidizer is described.

A rocket propellant includes a hydrocarbon blend having a total aromatic compounds content less than 0.5 mass percent, a specific energy of at least 18.4 KBtu/lb, and a mass density of at least 0.8150 grams per cubic centimeter. The propellant, which can be prepared by blending a refined kerosene with an isoparaffin and/or a cycloparaffin, exhibits a high volumetric heat of combustion and excellent thermal stability. This combination of properties is especially useful for fueling reusable launch vehicles employing regenerative cooling of engine components.