On the Investigation of Microstructured Charcoal as an ANFO Blasting Enhancer

Suzana Gotovac Atlagic,Niki Sorogas,John Arvanitidis,Andrzej Biessikirski,Michał Twardosz,Łukasz Kuterasiński,Michał Dworzak

doi:10.3390/en13184681

Abstract

In this study, we examined the influence of microstructured charcoal (MC) when added to ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) samples. We performed a study that investigated ANFOs structure, crystallinity, and morphology by utilizing infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. MC characteristics were probed by Raman spectroscopy and SEM analysis. SEM analysis indicated how fuel oil (FO) covered ammonium nitrate prill. Moreover, the surface of the MC was covered by specific microfibers and microtubes. The disordered graphitic structure of the MC was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Simulation of blasting properties revealed that the addition of MC should decrease blasting parameters like heat explosion, detonation pressure, and detonation temperature. However, the obtained differences are negligible in comparison with the regular ANFO. All analyses indicated that MC was a good candidate as an additive to ANFO.

Highlights

Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) is one of the most commonly used mining explosives in the world [1]
We presented a possible application of microstructured charcoal in an
Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) data, we concluded that adding microstructured charcoal (MC) did not alter the structure of the non-ideal explosive materials

Summary

Introduction

Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) is one of the most commonly used mining explosives in the world [1]. The combustible components were coal dust, sugar in the powdered and crystalline forms, aluminum dust, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and fuel oil Another example of a component added to AN used to obtain explosives is inorganic carbon. In the gaseous phase: It must be emphasized that the reactions between AN and fuel may occur at temperatures lower than the melting point of AN (169.6 ◦ C). Indicated that the introduction of carbon black into AN resulted in the lowering of AN decomposition temperature to 70 ◦ C. The change in non-ideal explosive density and the influence of MC structure may result in a change of detonation velocity, as well as post-blast fume volume. The present data shows that this type of carbonized material has a rather complicated though interesting microstructure and a potential as an ANFO additive

Materials and Methods

Microstructured Charcoal Characteristics

Conclusions