Systems for delivering explosives including homogenizing agents and methods of delivering explosives including homogenizing agents are provided. Methods of mixing homogenizing agents with emulsion matrices are also provided. The methods can include supplying an emulsion matrix, mixing a homogenizing agent with the emulsion matrix into a mixed product, and homogenizing the mixed product into a homogenized product. The homogenized product can be sensitized and/or conveyed to a blasthole.

Disclosed herein is an explosive formulation for use in reactive ground, and methods and compositions for loading blast holes in reactive ground with such explosive formulations. The explosive formulation comprises: a treatment component, comprising an oxidant; and a blasting component, comprising an explosive.

An explosive mixture of a water-in-oil dispersion (matrix emulsion) and ammonium nitrate granules (prills) of fertilizer grade, mechanically sensitized by microspheres (microballs), of plastic ceramic, glass or mixtures thereof and/or by means of a chemical reaction of bubble generation (gasification), which obtains an explosive composition of greater energy, greater volume of gases, water resistant and sensitive to No. 8 detonator, with a relative density as a cartridge between 0.95 g/cm3 and 1.25 g/cm3, with a detonation rate in an unconfined medium as cartridge in the range from 3500 m/s to 5900 m/s and it is stable for a minimum period of 6 months and where the explosive mixture is used in plastic or paper cartridges (chubs) as a nitrocarbonitrate primer and/or column loading in land blasting (rocks) from soft hardness to very hard in underground mining and/or open pits.

The disclosure is directed to pumpable explosive compositions that include a matrix emulsion, which has i) technical or fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate in a ratio between 60% and 70%; (ii) sodium nitrate from 1% to 20%; iii) urea from 0.1% to 8%; iv) thiourea from 0.1% to 2%, v) water from 5% to 20%, vi) acetic acid or sulfamic acid from 0.1% to 2%; vii) surfactants of non-ionic or polymeric nature from 0.5 to 3%; and viii) a hydrocarbon such as petroleum or a paraffinic or naphthenic based mineral oil, and where a second component of composition are technical and/or fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate prills in a ratio from 5% to 50%.

The present invention provides a method of stabilizing a nitrate-based explosive through the use of a NOx scavenger. The present invention further provides a blasting agent including ammonium nitrate and a NOx scavenger. The present invention further provides for a method of blasting adapted for use in reactive and/or elevated temperature ground.

The present invention is directed to an explosive composition comprised of heavy ANFO and expanded polymeric beads that have a density that is less than the density of the heavy ANFO. The expanded polymeric beads have a size that is determined or based on the size of ammonium nitrate prills used in the heavy ANFO portion of the composition. In one embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads that are utilized in the composition are at least 70% of the lower limit of the mesh size of the predominant ammonium nitrate prill mesh size. In another embodiment, the expanded polymeric beads are at least 70% of a size that is related to the average mesh size of the ammonium nitrate prills.

The invention relates to a bis-polyisobutylene alcohol amine compound and compositions thereof. The invention also is directed to a new process for making the bis-polyisobutylene alcohol amine by reacting a polyisobutylene epoxide with a polyamine, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, a protic solvent initiator and/or a diluent. In addition, the invention further relates to the many uses of the bis-polyisobutylene alcohol amine including but not limited to its use in lubricants, surfactants, emulsifiers, resins, and the like.

Explosive compositions are disclosed herein. The compositions include a diesel fuel and a vacuum gas oil. Some compositions disclosed herein include an emulsion that includes an oxidizer in a discontinuous phase and a blend of diesel fuel and vacuum gas oil in a continuous phase. Methods of manufacturing explosive compositions are also disclosed herein.

Provided is an emulsion explosive composition having voids/bubbles formed from one or more noble gases dispersed therein. Also provided is a method of manufacturing an emulsion explosive composition that includes mechanically and/or pneumatically infusing an emulsion explosive composition with a noble gas so as to create voids/bubbles formed from one or more noble gases. The noble gases can be contained within closed-cell micro-spheres that are dispersed throughout the emulsion explosive composition.

The present invention provides a modular installation (1) for carrying out a method of manufacturing an explosive emulsion precursor comprising at least three containers: a first container (100) for preparing an aqueous phase, including a dissolution first tank (110); and at least one second and/or third container (200, 300) including a second tank for preparing oily phase (210) and a third tank for preparing emulsion (310); and at least one fourth and/or fifth container (400, 500) including means (410) for feeding heat and means (510) for feeding electrical energy; and said first, second and/or third containers (100, 200, 300) being juxtaposed over at least a portion of one of their walls (100a, 300b, 200b) and being provided with openings (170, 370a, 275, 375, 270b) in their walls.