Anfo 20 or anfo, for ammonium nitrate fuel oil is a widely used explosive mixture. Users guide and history of anfo ammonium nitratefuel oil as a. Blasting prill considered a porous prill which better distributes the fuel oil and results in much better performance on blasting job. Since 1955, a variety of additional high explosives has been developed. Anfo explosive a versatile solution ammonium nitrate is an adaptable oxidizer that works well when explosions are needed during mining or quarrying operations. Used primarily in mining and quarrying operations precautions. Users guide and history of anfo ammonium nitratefuel oil.
Some commercial explosives with high fuel content may readily ignite and burn. Reducing the threat of improvised explosive device attacks by restricting access to explosive precursor chemicals prioritizes precursor chemicals that can be used to make hmes and analyzes the movement of those chemicals through united states commercial supply chains and identifies potential vulnerabilities. The big bang is written like a history book and therefore much easier to read that professor partingtons book. Head to the nearest chemistpharmacy, go up to the counter and ask for 6% peroxide, the person will take you to where it is.
Rowland iii and richard mainiero abstract for many years there have been small scale tests available for evaluating the toxic fumes production by capsensitive explosives dot class 1. By using bulk emulsion explosive it was possible to achieve a better breakage performance. The reaction products fill a much greater volume than that occupied by the original material and exert an enormous pressure, which can be. In a deep borehole, pressure in the bottom can alter an explosives density by causing microballoons to be crushed. Explosives anfo ammonium nitrate fuel oil on 10 november 2009 international troops and afghan police seized 250 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the southern city of kandahar. Emulsion explosive is a recent development in the field of commercial explosives which has a strength of a dynamite and safety of anfo. Nevertheless, militarylike shaped charges are sometimes used in the demolition of building and structures and anfos characteristics anfo is an acronym for ammonium nitrate fuel oil mixture, though originally developed for use in mining, are also appreciated by the army. Fire anfo is an acronym for the most popular blasting agents in use today. Black powder, also known as gunpowder, is a mixture of saltpeter potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal carbon. For example, water in a borehole can corrupt an explosive like ammoniumnitrate fuel oil, which isnt waterresistant ammonium nitrate is hydroscopic and will dissolve in water. The compositions of the present invention provide improve fuel retention. It is estimated that anfo accounts for an estimated 80% of explosives used annually around the world.
The text on the classification of explosive materials contains much data on the physical parameters of primary. Gunpowder studies are still in their infancy despite the longstanding civil and military importance of this explosive since its discovery in china in the midninth century ad. Some explosives, and particularly blasting agents, are more. How to detonate anfo without a high explosive quora. Explosive efficiency is the ratio of the amount of energy released to the calculated thermochemical energy.
Ammonium nitratefuel oil is widely used in coal mining, quarrying, metal mining, and civil construction. In a softer or highly jointed rock, a lowvelocity explosive, for example, anfo with a heaving action may give satisfactory results at a lower cost. Influence of homemade ammonium nitrate and fuel oil explosives. History with a bang and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. It forms the explosive base in anfo ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosives,which are now widely used. Detonation of anfo without a secondary explosive booster. Many rock breaking explosives are now available in the market. This ammonium nitratefuel oil, or anfo explosive, has replaced dynamite as the explosive of choice for many peacetime uses. This paper presents a study of the influence of aprimer on the velocity of detonation of anfo and heavy anfo blends. Influence of a primer on the velocity of detonation of. Explosives such as nitratefuel oil mixtures or anfo and ammonium nitratebase water gels now account for seventy percent of the explosive. Previous tests were fielded with 6061 aluminum al confiners to characterize the effect of the higher aluminum sound speed on d 0. Introduction to explosives for official use only c4. It consists of 94% porous prilled ammonium nitrate nh 4 no 3 an, which acts as the oxidizing agent and absorbent for the fuel, and 6% number 2 fuel oil fo.
A brief history of explosives in the home the mixture of chemicals in a kitchen match is in many ways quite similar to black powder. Created mostly for military use, they also have commercial applications, such as in deep drilling operations. In 1955 it was discovered that mixtures of ammonium nitrate and fine coal dust would give very satisfactory blasting results in the large about 22. A century of bureau of minesniosh explosives research richard j. The potential energy stored in an explosive material may, for example, be chemical energy, such as nitroglycerin or grain dust.
You can smell the sulfur, and from the rapid flare of the first strike, you can tell there is a powerful oxidizer in the mix. Many plants were built in europe and the united states for the manufacture of this type of explosive, mostly using potassium chlorate, but so far as can be determined, all of. From the ninth century ad though the historians are still uncertain about the exact date of its invention to the mid1800s, black powder was the only explosive available. All blasting agents contain the following essential components. Bureau of mines usbm was created by an act of congress on july 1, 1910. Blasting agents are a material or mixture consisting of fuel and oxidizer that is intended for blasting and that cannot be detonated by a no. History of explosives and blasting in the us and canada alone, blasters use more than 6 billion pounds of explosives and 75 million detonators per year. A single type of explosives was therefore used as a propellant for guns and for blasting purpose in any military, mining and civil engineering application. The paper describes different experimental measurements of anfo explosives made by university of zilina, faculty of security engineering with the collaboration of military technical and testing. The present invention relates to ammonium nitrate fuel oil mixtures, and includes compositions comprising a ammonium nitrate, b a fuel component, c a functionalized polymer component, and d an oilsoluble anionic surfactant, wherein the mixture of components b, c and d form a gel that will not readily flow.
May 14, 20 anfo or ammonium nitratefuel oil is a widely used bulk industrial explosive mixture in mines and quarry operation. It describes the history of all explosives, from black powder to the hbomb. Some explosives, and particularly blasting agents, are more sensitive to diameter changes. It is practiced most often in mining, quarrying and civil engineering such as dam, tunnel or road construction. History of highprofile bombing attacks reducing the. Ammonium nitrate is an oxidizing agent that does more than just supply oxygen to support the combustion of a fuelit also is itself an explosive. It must be detonated by a primer, a cartridge of high explosive with detonator and the detonation pressure of the primer should be greater than that of the anfo. This creates more of an explosive push than a high velocity tnt blast. It originated in china around in the ninth century and was in wide use throughout asia and europe by the end of the th century. Aws of anfo is 880 calg for 94% an and 6% fuel oil explosive efficiency varies from 35% to 90% of maximum energy this is the actual energy delivered in a blast is 35% to 90% of. The dramatic history of explosives, from the invention of gunpowder to the hbomb laying the emphasis on the lives of the people involved, on the diverse uses of explosives, and on their social and historical impact, this entertaining history relates a story of remarkable international and human endeavor. Anfo, emulsion and heavy anfo blends useful explosive. It consists of a series of confined anfo rate sticks where the expansion velocitytime history of the inert confiner was recorded with a photon doppler velocimetry pdv diagnostic. History of explosives and blasting mining engineer first.
In this case, the detonation wave from the blasting cap is not powerful enough to cause detonation, so a booster must be used in a 3 or 4step train. Anfo 20 or an fo, for ammonium nitrate fuel oil is a widely used explosive mixture. Explosives such as nitratefuel oil mixtures or anfo and ammonium nitratebase water gels now account for seventy percent of the explosives market. The book treats, among others, black powder, smokeless powder, cordite, ballistite, nitroglycerin, dynamite, gun cotton, tnt, anfo, picric acid, safety fuse, detonators, the a bomb and the hbomb. A bigger difference than between this book and history of greek fire and gunpowder can hardly be imagined. Application anfo has zero water resistance and has a wide variety of applications in dry hole blasting conditions. The history of explosives and blasting research at the u.
Users guide and history of anfo ammonium nitratefuel. Comprises ingredients that by themselves are non explosive. Anfo explosives international explosives equipment. Anfo and waterbased explosives such as water gels and emulsions are more difficult to ignite in the open. Every page goes through several hundred of perfecting techniques. The science of industrial explosives cook, melvin a. It consists of 94 % porous ammonium nitrate nh 4 no 3, an that acts as the oxidizing agent and absorbent for the fuel 6 % number 2 fuel oil fo, popularly known as high speed diesel hsd. Interest in the chlorates and perchlorates salts of chloric or perchloric acid as a base for explosives dates back to 1788. The history of explosives an explosive is a device that produces a volume of rapidly expanding gas that exerts pressure. In contrast, explosives with varying particle size, such as anfo or water gels, will not have a uniform burning rate, and therefore, will. Sweden where bulk emulsion explosives have been used. In this second volume by contributors who meet regularly at symposia of the international committee for the history of technology icohtec, the research is again rooted in the investigation of the technology of. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Analysis and trends anfo can be used as a main charge but requires a booster for detonation requires umilled porous prills of an because are less dense and retain moisture better improvisation of.
Characteristics, properties, and overview sensitivity. Confined, anfos critical diameter is approximately 1 14 inches. The velocity of detonation of the explosive was measured in situ in a borehole, by the continuous method. Because of anfos stability and relatively low cost, it is still one of the most popular explosive materials in use today. Revised and expanded to reflect new developments in the field, this book outlines the basic principles required to understand the chemical processes of explosives. Anfo or anfo, for ammonium nitratefuel oil is a widely used bulk industrial explosive. Explosives historical cases some of the most significant and tragic events in the history of the last few hundred years have involved explosives in the form of bombsdevices used in. A blasting cap is needed to detonate anfo because it is very stable unlike. An anfo explosion, although potentially powerful and even devastating, detonates more slowly than an explosion of nitroglycerin or tnt. To make a large hole in the earth, an inexpensive explosive such as anfo might be used.
Anfo under most conditions is considered a high explosive. He built bridges and buildings in stockholm and founded swedens first rubber factory. Can anfo be set off without a booster charge using low order explosives e. The true explosive capabilities of ammonium nitrate were not discovered until wwi. An explosion can be defined as the rapid expansion of a material or device that exerts a sudden pressure on its surroundings.
Anfo definition is a compound made from ammonium nitrate and fuel oil that is used both as a commercial explosive and in the manufacture of improvised bombs. Although it appears close, we are a long ways away. Every explosive has a certain critical diameter below which detonation will not propagate beyond the primer point. Anfo can not be initiated on its own by heat, shock or by a detonator. Drilling and blasting is the controlled use of explosives and other methods such as gas pressure blasting pyrotechnics, to break rock for excavation. A brief history of explosives in the home science toys. Mainiero national institute for occupational safety and health niosh, pittsburgh, pa, usa harry c. The components are generally mixed at or near the point of use for safety reasons. Cooks life is intimately connected with the history of explosives, he is a scientist, inventor, teacher, businessman, theorist, consultant.
Ammonium nitratefuel oil anfo blasting agents represent the largest industrial explosive manufactured in terms of quantity in the united states. Critical diameter the minimum diameter for propagation of a stable detonation. Full text of kitchen improvised, complete blasting caps, fertilizer explosives, plastic explosives 1 and 2 tim lewis blindreeper version. Oxygen carriers assure complete oxidation of the carbon in the explosive mixture, which. Anfo was first used maliciously in 1970 when protests by students became violent at the university of wisconsinmadison, who learned how to make and use anfo from a wisconsin conservation department booklet entitled pothole blasting for wildlife, resulting in the sterling hall bombing. Three types of primers were used for the initiation of the explosives and the velocity of detonation was measured in situ by a continuous method. See explosive explosive, substance that undergoes decomposition or combustion with great rapidity, evolving much heat and producing a large volume of gas. That is, a borehole or column of anfo less than two inches in diameter will detonate in the immediate area of the primer.
Rbs for an explosive is the ratio of abs of the explosive to. Anfo, emulsion and heavy anfo blends useful explosive and. Testing explosives from the anarchist cookbook youtube. A century of bureau of minesniosh explosives research. Cole and 2002 bali nightclub bombings recommended in alqaedas traditional curriculum of explosives training. Ammonium nitrate is an oxidizer, and not an explosive material in itself, and is therefore not classified as an explosive for transport purposes. Relatively insensitive to heat, shock, and friction uses.
Coal mining accounts for twothirds of consumed explosives of which more than 80% of it is anfo. The book treats, among others, black powder, smokeless powder, cordite, ballistite, nitroglycerin, dynamite, gun cotton, tnt, anfo, picric acid, safety fuse. Decoupling the use of explosive products having smaller volume than the volume of the blasthole it occupies. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet.
The chemistry of explosives provides an overview of the history of explosives, taking the reader to future developments. As a general rule of thumb what you need to set off an insensitive bulk explosive is the detonation of another explosive. In all cases of eye contamination it is a sensible precaution to seek medical advice. Nov 26, 2012 we rented an empty warehouse to test out some of the explosive recipes from the anarchist cookbook. In confined spaces, burning may lead to detonation. Its best used in undemanding applications where its low cost and relative ease of use makes it a cost effective solution. Mainiero national institute for occupational safety and health niosh, pittsburgh, pa, usa. When combined with fuel oil, it makes an effective explosive that has a wide range of applications. An explosive charge is a measured quantity of explosive material, which may either be composed solely of one ingredient or be a mixture containing at least two substances. Cutoffs a portion of an explosive column that has failed to detonate due to rock movement. Emulsions are highly efficient explosives, due primarily to their microscopic particle size. Full text of kitchen improvised, complete blasting caps. For blasting in hard rock, a highvelocity explosive is preferable. They were mixed with various solid and liquid fuels.
Fertilizer grade vs explosive grade an prills for anfo often fertilizer grade an prills are used as anfo for blasting purpose. In india, anfo, slurry and emulsion are the popular commercial explosives. Dynamite was invented by swedish chemist alfred nobel in the 1860s and was the first safely manageable explosive stronger than black powder, which had been invented in china in the 9th century alfred nobels father, immanuel nobel, was an industrialist, engineer, and inventor. The text on the classification of explosive materials contains much data on the physical parameters of primary and secondary explosives. It is unknown who invented the first explosive black powder. This product is used primarily in mining and quarrying operations. Verakis mine safety and health administration msha, triadelphia, wv, usa abstract. These plants used the haberbosch process to form their ammonia.
310 83 251 73 351 46 1042 1369 1475 1288 1085 41 318 771 1320 469 1414 1314 155 1415 1280 548 498 886 552 10 161 1449 1332 703 413 532 15 1418 64