Explosive formulations containing concentrated hydrogen peroxide – potential solutions to key drawbacks of currently used explosives?

Abstract

Explosives are extensively used for civilian purposes, with blasting operations playing a crucial role in mining (underground and open pit) [1,2], civil engineering (demolitions, tunnel construction) [3,4] and materials processing (e.g. explosive welding) [5]. Virtually all explosives that are currently used for the above purposes contain ammonium nitrate, nitric acid esters or nitrocompounds. Despite their widespread use in blasting operations, such explosives are burdened by significant drawbacks (D1 – D7), the most significant of which are: D1: Manufacture from non-renewable resources via highly energy-intensive processes; D2: Significant threat to human health and to the environment in the case of nitric acid esters and nitrocompounds [6,7]; D3: Emission of large amounts of toxic and highly corrosive gases (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides) upon detonation [8]; D4: Gradual decomposition, particularly of liquid nitric acid esters, as well as gradual leakage of liquid nitroesters from the explosives, necessitating the use of stabilising and anti-leakage agents [9]; D5: Susceptibility to misfires (primarily in the case of explosives based on ammonium nitrate), currently being one of the primary threats associated with blasting operations [10,11]; D6: Susceptibility to theft and subsequent criminal misuse [12], due to maintaining the ability to detonate even following improper storage or a misfire during blasting; D7: Significant risk of fire / explosion during production [13], transport and disposal [14], due to susceptibility to undergo detonation caused by various stimuli (e.g. impact, friction) [15]. The above issues have long been recognised in the field of explosives and safety considerations are likely the key reason for the development of emulsion explosives [16], which contain no nitric acid esters or nitrocompounds, while achieving only slightly lower energetic parameters than explosives utilising such compounds.