Improved explosive composition

Abstract

The present invention provides an explosive composition comprising from about 2 to about 25 w/w hydrogen peroxide, from greater than 0 and up to about 90% w/w of one or more of other oxidisers. The present invention also provides a method of 5 preparing an explosive composition and use of the explosive composition of the invention to break and move ground, such as in mining operations.

1 . An explosive composition comprising:
 a. from about 2 to about 25% w/w hydrogen peroxide; and   b. from greater than 0 and up to about 90% w/w of at least one other oxidiser.   
     
     
         2 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other oxidiser is selected from the group consisting of nitrate salts, perchlorate salts, sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide and optionally nitric acid, wherein the nitrate salts are selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate and sodium nitrate, and wherein the perchlorate salts are selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate and sodium perchlorate. 
     
     
         3 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , comprising at most 50% w/w of water. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from about 5 to about 25% w/w hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         10 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from about 0.1 to about 75% w/w of the at least one other oxidiser. 
     
     
         11 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an additive selected from the group consisting of a sensitiser, fuel, secondary fuel, water, thickener, crosslinker, emulsifier, and energy diluent. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The explosive composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensitiser comprises at least one of a compressible material and bubbles of gas, wherein the bubbles of gas are formed in situ and consist of one of N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , NO, H 2  bubbles and a mixture thereof, and wherein the compressible material is gas entrapped material selected from the group consisting of glass microballoons, ceramic microballoons, plastic microballoons and EPS with a particle size smaller than 2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The explosive composition according to  claim 13 , further comprising a sufficient amount of the sensitiser such that a density of the explosive composition is controlled to around 0.3 to 1.4 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The explosive composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said fuel is one of a water soluble fuel and a water insoluble fuel, said water soluble fuel is selected from the group consisting of an amine nitrate, gums, glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sugar molasses, formamide, urea and a mixture thereof, and wherein the water insoluble fuel is selected from the group consisting of diesel, oils, vegetable oils, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the explosive composition is a watergel composition which comprises at least one of a thickeners and a crosslinker, wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, xanthan gum, sodium alginate, polyacrylamides and polyvinyl alcohols, and wherein the crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of antimony salts, chromic salts, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the explosive composition is an emulsion composition which comprises at least one emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of PIBSA-amine derivatives, SMO, lecithin and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the explosive composition comprises at least one energy diluents selected from the group consisting of EPS, crumb rubber tyre, popcorn, and plastic beads. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , having an Oxygen balance between +10 and −10. 
     
     
         25 . The explosive composition according to  claim 1 , having a viscosity of from 5 to 50 Pa*s. 
     
     
         26 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method of breaking and moving ground comprising steps of: applying the explosive composition according to  claim 1  to a blasthole; and detonating the explosive composition.