EFFECT OF DIFFERENT EMULSIFIERS ON THE STABILITY AND

PERFORMANCE OF NPSD EMULSION EXPLOSIVES .

By: Dr. Atul P Dwivedi

ABSTRACT
The emulsion explosives are manufacture by high speed mixing of Oxidizer Blend (Water Phase) and
Fuel Blend (Fuel Phase). The oil and water are immiscible with each other. To mix this incompatible
system emulsifiers are added. It is known that the emulsifier is one of the most important factors
affecting W/O structural stability. In the present study we have made trials using Polyisobutenyl succinic
anhydrides (PIBSA), Polyisobutenyl Lactone (PIBLA) and Sorbitan Mono-Oleate (SMOs). The oxidizer
blend and the other ingredients of Fuel face was kept constant or adjusted as per the dosage of
Emulsifiers. In this study we have compared the VOD and Density of each explosive made using
PIBSA, PIBLA and SMOs.

There are many factors affecting the W/O structural stability of emulsion matrixes, such as emulsifying
technique and temperature, and type, functionality, components, molecular weight, the addition rate of
the emulsifier etc.

EXPERIMENTATION

The emulsion matrix was made using all the three type of emulsifiers i.e. PIBSA, PIBLA and SMO. The
Oxidizer blend containing mixture of AN and SN was kept constant for the all the emulsifiers. The
Oxidizer to fuel ratio was kept at 94 : 6 in all the cases of emulsifiers used for making fuel blend. The
pH of OB was kept in between 4 to 4.5. The other ingredients of the Fuel blend like waxes and mineral
oil was same for all the emulsifiers. The emulsification was carried out at 80 to 85 OC. The emulsification
was carried out at high shear using a high speed impeller at around 1300 to 1400 RPM. The matrix
produced was doped with Atomized Aluminum powder and Prilled ammonium nitrate. The matrix was
gassed using sodium nitrite. The density of the Explosive mixture was kept at 1.10 to 1.15.

The cartridges were kept under observation for one year and its density (By water displacement
method) and VOD (Dautrich method) was measured ever month. The observations were made and
graphs were plotted.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Separate graphs were plotted for density and viscosity made using all the three different emulsifiers
with respect to number of days.

Graph of Density with no. of days:-

 Density (gm/cc) Density (gm/cc)
1.3 1.22
1.25 1.2
1.2 1.18

1.15 1.16
Density Density
(gm/cc) 1.14 (gm/cc)
1.1
1.12
1.05
1.1
1
1.08
1 30 90 150 210 270 330
1 30 90 150 210 270 330

(a) With PIBSA (b) With PIBLA

Density (gm/cc)
1.4
1.3
1.2 Density
(gm/cc)
1.1
1
1 15 30 60 90 120 150 180 210

(c) With SMO

(a) Graph it can be seen that the density of the product started getting deteriorated after nine months.

(b) Graph it can be seen that the density of the product is stable till one year.

(c) Graph it can be seen that the density of the product started getting deteriorated after six months.

3.2 Graph of VOD with no. of days:-

 VOD (M/S) VOD (M/S)
4500
5000
4000 4500
3500 4000
3000 3500
2500 3000
VOD 2500 VOD
2000
(M/S) 2000 (M/S)
1500
1500
1000 1000
500 500
0 0

3.1 (a) With PIBSA 3.1 (b) With PIBLA

VOD (M/S)
5000

4000

3000 VOD
(M/S)
2000

1000

3.1 (c) With SMO

(a) Graph it can be seen that the VOD of the product started getting deteriorated after six months.

(b) Graph it can be seen that the VOD of the product is stable till one year.

(c) Graph it can be seen that the density of the product started getting deteriorated after six months.

CONCLUSION
Form the stability data and the results and discussion it can be concluded that the PIB-Lactone can be
a good emulsifier for manufacture of emulsion explosives were long life is required i.e. were the shelf
life of the product required is above one year. The products made of PIBSA and SMO starts
deteriorating after six months but the PIBLA based products are retaining its stability for more than
year. In PIBSA and SMOs the products made of SMOs deteriorate much faster than that made of
PIBSA.