Mining Emulsion Explosives

Emulsion explosives are prepared by agitation of a super saturated aqueous solution of some oxidisers and a fuel doped with an emulsifying agent. The composition thus prepared is extremely insensitive to initiation and hence requires gas bubbles for sensitisation. The basic oxidiser used in emulsion explosives is ammonium nitrate. Sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate are frequently used to modify the properties of the oxidiser solution. The fuel phase consists of various mineral oils and waxes. A distinguished feature of emulsion explosives is that in the aqueous solution, the oxidiser is present in the form of tiny droplets covered with a very thin fuel layer.