Measurements of the VOD of Selected Mining Explosives and Novel “Green Explosives” Using the Continuous Method

Explosive velocity, also known as detonation velocity or velocity of detonation (VOD), is one of the most important and basic parameters describing the properties of explosives. This work presents the VOD results of three different explosives. Two of the explosives were ammonium nitrate-based (straight emulsion and Heavy ANFO). The third explosive was based on hydrogen peroxide (HP). The aim of the experiments was to compare the VOD of the HP-based against the VOD of the ammonium nitrate-based explosives. The final conclusions and results of this preliminary work and the analysis of available literature show that HP-based explosives, so called “green explosives”, have the potential to successfully replace ammonium nitrate-based explosives in some applications. The results of this work will be used to develop production technology for new HP-based explosives and to find their possible applications, considering their environmentally friendly character (this novel formulation of explosive eliminates post-blast nitrogen oxide fumes (NOx), as a direct product of the detonation process). During the burning reaction, nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2) are produced as a result of the use of bulk ammonium nitrate-based commercial explosives. Exposure to these toxic gases can have negative effects on the health and safety of personnel and the surrounding environment. The results obtained for the new emulsion explosives allow them to be used extensively in the industry as a competitive product on the market.