Insensitive Explosive Composition for Rock Fracturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing explosive compositions are highly sensitive, limiting their use in applications requiring extrudability and safety due to their propensity to react under impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge, which restricts their application in rock fracturing and other industrial processes.

Innovation Solution

Development of insensitive explosive compositions formed by reacting explosive diamine monomers with di-isocyanate or poly-isocyanate monomers, resulting in oligomeric or polymeric products that are extrudable before final cure, offering improved mechanical properties and reduced sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, allowing safe processing and use in various applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional explosive compositions are used, then high explosive performance is achieved, but high sensitivity to impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidsensitivity to mechanical stimuli
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite materials by combining explosive diamine monomers with di-isocyanate or poly-isocyanate monomers to create a polymeric or oligomeric matrix. This composite structure embeds the explosive compounds within the polymer network, reducing sensitivity to mechanical stimuli while maintaining explosive performance. The polymer matrix acts as a protective medium that dampens impact and friction effects on the explosive molecules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical and physical parameters of the explosive composition by forming covalent bonds between explosive monomers and isocyanate monomers. This chemical transformation converts traditional sensitive explosive compounds into a polymeric structure with different physical properties, including reduced sensitivity and improved thermal stability, while preserving the explosive functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional explosive compositions are used, then explosive power is maintained, but extrudability and processability are limited due to sensitivity concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveextrudabilityVSAvoidsafety during processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies dynamics by creating a composition that transitions from a liquid or semi-liquid state during extrusion to a cured solid state after placement. The uncured composition contains reactive monomers that can be extruded through nozzles and applied to rock surfaces, then cures in situ to form the final explosive structure. This dynamic state change enables easy processing while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses preliminary action by allowing the composition to cure partially or fully before detonation. The uncured or partially cured composition can be extruded and positioned on rock surfaces, then completes its curing process in place. This preliminary curing action enables safe handling and positioning before the final explosive function is activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If insensitive explosive compositions are developed through polymerization, then safety and mechanical toughness are improved, but composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical toughnessVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functions into a single composition system. The explosive diamine monomers provide explosive power, the di-isocyanate or poly-isocyanate monomers provide polymerization capability and mechanical toughness, and the resulting polymeric structure provides both structural integrity and sensitivity reduction. This merging eliminates the need for separate binder and explosive components, simplifying the overall composition despite the complex chemical reactions involved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The insensitive explosive compositions demonstrate enhanced safety and mechanical toughness, enabling their use in extrudable forms for rock fracturing, mining, and other applications where traditional explosives are restricted, with improved thermal stability and compatibility, and the ability to form self-propping matrices in hydraulic fracturing.

Implementation Method 1

an insensitive explosive composition that is a mixture of an explosive diamine monomer with a di- and/or poly-isocyanate monomer, to an insensitive explosive reaction product of a reaction between these monomers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

As the compositions cures but prior to a final cure, the composition may be extruded into a variety of shapes. After a final cure, the composition tends to be rubbery and tough.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS9091163B2Insensitive explosive composition and method of fracturing rock using an extrudable form of the composition
Publication Date: 2015.07.28 TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY LLC

AI summary

Insensitive explosive compositions were prepared by reacting di-isocyanate and/or poly-isocyanate monomers with an explosive diamine monomer. Prior to a final cure, the compositions are extrudable. The di-isocyanate monomers tend to produce tough, rubbery materials while polyfunctional monomers (i.e. having more than two isocyanate groups) tend to form rigid products. The extrudable form of the composition may be used in a variety of applications including rock fracturing.