Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended With Emulsion Explosives

Saurabh Sahay and Sanjay Sengar

Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd., India
&
Dr.B M P Pingua, Dr. Nabiullah
Central Institute Of Mining and Fuel Research, India
Abstract
In India, more than 80 percent of the total of 557 million metric ton coal production comes from opencast mines involving large overburden removal with average 1:3.5 stripping ratio which is going to increase in future. This operation consumes nearly 0.5 million metric ton explosives consisting of 80-85
percent bulk explosives and remaining 15 to 20 percent non-permitted large diameter explosives. Qualities of bulk explosives play an important role in rock blasting. Post blast results like poor fragmentation,
tight mucking, toe problems, improper muck profile and lower productivity of mine may require changes in explosive loading factor (amount of explosive used per unit of rock blasted ). The explosive loading factor is an extremely important index to assess the economy of blasting operation.
Porous Prilled Ammonium Nitrate (PPAN) blending in bulk emulsion has been tried at Northern coalfields Ltd (NCL), one of the subsidiaries of Coal India Limited, to improve blast performance which has
been found to be cost-effective method of sensitizing explosives offering assured sensitization and better
energy release. Due to reduction in water content and increased AN content, the explosive product is
expected to have higher strength and more gas volume generation resulting in better blast performance.
The blended emulsion with 20% to 25% PPAN was used in trial blasts of rocks to remove major constraints in dragline and shovel benches. The positive changes in gaseous energy and loading density contributed towards improvement of explosive loading factor and fragmentation.
On the basis of research findings on explosives performance assessment, an effort has been made to determine the improvement in explosive loading factor with PPAN blended emulsion explosives vis--vis
straight emulsion and the same have been evaluated in field trial blasts in Northern Coalfields Ltd. Trial
blasts were conducted at shovel and dragline benches in different mines of NCL. The trial blasts performances have been evaluated in respect of explosive loading factor improvement, post blast results and
saving generated for both coal miners and explosive manufacturers.
Introduction
Majority of surface coal mines in India use site mixed emulsion explosives. In most of the high benches
blended emulsion explosives are preferred and in rest of shallow benches that are loaded and blasted on
the same day, the use of straight emulsion explosives is a preferred option. The bulk emulsion explosives blended with PPAN are used for certain critical operations like assured performance in deep Dragline and hard benches. The bulk emulsion products with varying degree (10-20%) of blending of PPAN
are used in such applications. It is observed in ISEE Blasters Handbook that with increase of PPAN
blending from 5% to 20%, there is a corresponding increase in (a) thermal chemical energy (b) available
energy and (c) velocity of detonation.
Emulsion explosives blended with FGAN (fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate) are also used but have
been poor on the realization of results. The practice of blending with FGAN is centric to cost saving. We
have tried to evaluate the comparative tests results of blended emulsion with PPAN and FGAN and
Straight Emulsion. The consumers of bulk explosives have been making the payments based on the per-

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

1 of 9

formance of explosives. Performance of explosives is evaluated based on the explosive loading factor
achieved along with acceptable level of other post blast results like fragmentation, generation of oversize boulders and tightness of muckpile. Bench-wise normative explosive loading factors are included in
the contract for supply to various mines. In case of non-achievement of explosive loading factor corresponding price of explosives is deducted. Most of the time in case of straight/FGAN blended bulk emulsion explosives; explosive loading factor has not been achieved as per the norms. We have initiated a
study to evaluate the contribution of PPAN blended emulsion explosives over the emulsion explosives
blend with FGAN and straight emulsion in order to enable the suppliers and vendors to make the appropriate choice for the blasting operation. The value addition by blending with PPAN in emulsion is being
documented and converted into terms of benefits.
Study and Evaluation of Ammonium Nitrate Prills for Blasting Application
There are basically two types of ammonium nitrate prills - fertilizer grade and blasting grade. The blasting grade prill is considered as a porous prill whereas fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate prill (FGAN) is
of higher density, is not porous and normally does not possess internal voids. Larry Schneider (6) stated,
This porosity is one difference between the blasting grade AN prill and the fertilizer grade AN used in
agriculture. FGAN prill, without necessary voids is not in a position to provide requisite sensitization
or hot spot and save the explosives from dead press condition mainly in deep holes. Prof. M.A Cook (2)
observed that PPAN essentially possesses around 7% available voids and around double of that nonavailable voids, (total around 20%). When the oxygen balance, the additional AN and the large quantity
of voids in such porous prills offer much higher distributed hot spots and thus proportionately achieve
much higher blast energy.
Hot spot theory: When the propagating shock wave started by the high explosive used to detonate the
emulsion moves through the explosive column, the shock wave hits a void or gas bubble, and compresses it. The pressure compressing the voids or gas bubble during detonation is of the order of 7,000 atm to
200,000 atm (102,872 psi to 2,939,200 psi). When the void compresses, it generates heat between 3,000
o
C to 7,000oC. This instantaneous heat generation propagates shock energy in front of the detonation,
which starts the procedure over and over again with the next voids, (S.M.Jhon4). Samples of PPAN and
FGAN prills have been studied by Nabiullah and Pingua (CIMFR technical report (1)), and results are
given in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Properties of PPAN and FGAN prills
Properties of PPAN & FGAN
Parameter
Size > 2.0 mm (0.08 in.)
Size 1.2mm to 2.0 mm (0.05 in.
to 0.08 in.)
Size 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm (0.02 in.
to 0.05 in.)
Size <0.5 (0.02 in.)
Poured Density
Settled Density
Porosity
Oil absorption and Retention

Units
%

PPAN
9.70

FGAN
15.6

87.5

54.7

2.60

17.0

%
g/cc (lb/ft3 )
g/cc(lb/ft3)
(%)
(% by wt.)

0.20
0.74 (46.2)
0.78 (48.7)
20.21
8.29

12.7
0.92 (57.4)
0.97 (60.6)
12.99
5.00

Table 1 shows that density of PPAN is lower by 24% then that with FGAN, which results in costeffectiveness (lesser bulk density). Porosity of PPAN is around 55% higher than that of FGAN, which

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

2 of 9

offers more hot-spot energy (on blasting). Oil absorption/retention in PPAN is 66% better than that of
FGAN that results in excellent oxygen-balance & better explosive produced. It is noted that FGAN
prills have higher bulk density in the range of 0.96 g/cc to 0.98 g/cc (59.9 lb/ft3 to 61.2 lb/ft3). It may be
inferred that higher density prills (FGAN) are not suitable for blending with emulsion explosive. The
Ammonium Nitrate Prill for blending should have the following properties:
1. Bulk density should be in the range of 0.75g/cc to 0.85 g/cc (46.8 lb/ft3 to 53.1 lb/ft3)
2. Porosity should vary from 17% to 20%
3. Oil absorption and retention should vary from 6.5% to 9% by weight.
Explosives Performance Study
The velocity of detonation (VOD) and an explosives energy are the most important factors to predict
the performance of explosives in rock blasting. The performance of site mixed emulsion explosive product is affected with the ingredients used in its manufacturing. Data collated from some scientific studies
on performance evaluation of emulsion explosive blend with different percentage of PPAN in respect of
VOD and energy.
VOD Test: A study conducted by CIMFR, India, (CIMFR Technical report (1)) on Study of low and
high density ammonium nitrate prills for blasting application to see the performance of emulsion explosive blend with PPAN and FGAN in respect of VOD. The results of test are shown in the following
Figure 1.
Figure 1: A comparison of VOD of emulsion explosive products blend with PPAN and FGAN

The emulsions prepared with AN crystal were blended with varying percentage of PPAN and FGAN
prills and VOD were measured in unconfined and confined conditions. Blend emulsion cartridges were
prepared in 83 mm (3.27 in.) polythene leaflet and fired by using 100 g (0.22lb) cast booster. The confinement tests were conducted at high density PVC pipe. The straight emulsions showed less VOD than
blended compositions. The above results showed that emulsion blended with 20% PPAN gives approx.
24% and 18% higher VOD over straight and FGAN blended bulk emulsion explosives respectively.
Energy Test: The analysis of the data given in Table 2 (taken from ISEE Handbook) concerning typical explosives Energy of Emulsion ANFO blends of PPAN to determine the value of explosive energy to
0% PPAN blending i.e. straight emulsion, it is observed that the value of thermal energy increases by
7.3% for 20% PPAN blend emulsion over straight emulsion.

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

3 of 9

Table 2: Typical explosive properties of ANFO: Emulsion Blend

Emulsion To AN Prills Ratio
Thermal chemical energy(MJ/kg)
60/40
3.15
65/35
3.10
70/30
3.05
75/25
3.00
80/20
2.95
85/15
2.90
90/10
2.85
95/5
2.80
100/0 ( Straight Emulsion)
2.75
th
(Source: ISEE Handbook, 17 edition, Table 9.1, pp 101)
From above two test results, it is clear that there is a considerable improvement in VOD and energy of
PPAN blended explosives over straight and FGAN blended explosive.
On the basis of above tests (VOD and Energy) findings, an exercise has been done to see the improvement in explosive loading factor with PPAN blend emulsion explosive. Explosive loading factor can be
improved by changing either or combined following ways:
a) Expanding drill pattern
b) Reducing the explosives quantity in blast hole
c) Complete Blasting and movement at the bottom of the blast holes.
(a) Expansion in Drill Pattern
The combined impact of enhanced energy and VOD of explosive could be seen from an empirical formula given by using Konya and Walter (1990)5 in which energy and VOD of explosives has been taken
for burden determination along with other parameters.
B (Burden) = 0.044F (Ch*Eaws*VOD/ (r*Vp)) 0.5

(Equation 1)

Where,
r=Density of rock (g/cc); Ch=Explosives charge (kg/m); Eaws=Absolute weight strength (Kcal/kg)
VOD= Velocity of detonation of explosives (m/s); Vp=Primary wave velocity in rock (m/s).
In Equation 1 above, burden is proportional to Energy and VOD of explosive, keeping other factors
constant in this case.
B (dp)/B (st)=[( Eawsdp*VODdp)/(Eawsst*VODst )]0.5

(Equation 2)

where, dp and st denote blend and straight emulsion explosive respectively.

The tests values given in Figure1 and Tables 2 have been taken for determination of incremental change
in the burden which is equal to incremental change in explosive loading factor (Explosive loading factor
is inversely proportional to Burden). The effect is depicted in the Table 3 below.

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

4 of 9

Table 3: Percentage improvement in explosive loading factor at different percentage of PPAN blending
over straight emulsion
VOD (Under confined
conditions)
PPAN blending%
0
10
20

AWS(Mj/kg)

m/s

ft/s

% improvement in explosive loading factor over

straight emulsion

2.75
2.85
2.95

4718
5338
5719

15479
17513
18763

Straight Bulk Emulsion

7.70
12.30

Apart from the improvement in explosive loading factor, there will be a considerable saving in drilling
cost also due to expanded drill pattern.
(b) Reducing Explosive Quantity in Blast Hole
Quantity of explosives required fragmenting and heave the rock mass depends upon total energy content
of explosives put in the blast hole. Previous studies show that PPAN blending in bulk emulsion enhance
the explosive energy significantly. With increase of PPAN blending, there is a corresponding increase in
thermal chemical energy. A simulation has been done on a blast design parameter given in Table4, generally used in medium hard strata in Indian surface coal mines based on energy given in Table2. The approach consists of keeping the same energy in the blast hole while varying the explosive quantity to calculate the explosive loading factor.
Table 4: Percentage improvement in explosive loading factor with increase in % of PPAN in blending
%
Blend
ing
with
PPAN

0
10
15
20

Hole
depth
(m)
[ft]

Hole
Dia.
( mm)
[in.]

Burden
(m)
[ft]

15
[49.2]
15
[49.2]
15
[49.2]
15
[49.2]

250
[9.8]
250
[9.8]
250
[9.8]
250
[9.8]

8
[26.3]
8
[26.3]
8
[26.3]
8
[26.3]

Spacing
(m)
[ft]

Explosive
Average
bulk density (g/cc)
3
[lb/ft ]

Explosives
Quantity
(kg)
[lb]

10
[32.8]
10
[32.8]
10
[32.8]
10
[32.8]

1.2
[74.9]
1.2
[74.9]
1.2
[74.9]
1.2
[74.9]

600
[1323]
579
[1276]
569
[1254]
559
[1232]

Energy
Mj/kg

Total
Energy
Mj

2.75

1650

2.85

1650

2.9

1650

2.95

1650

Explosive
loading factor
3
( kg/m )
[lb/ yd3 ]

0.5
[0.84]
0.48
[0.81]
0.47
[0.80]
0.46
[0.78]

%improvement
in explosive loading factor.
increase
Straight
bulk
emulsion

3.6
4.8
7.1

In the above Table 4 it is observed that with 10% to 20% PPAN blending in emulsion explosive there is
3.6% to 7.1% improvement in explosive loading factor. From above two exercises it is very clear that
there is a minimum 7% improvement in explosive loading factor at 15% to 20% PPAN blended emulsion explosive.
(c) Complete Blasting and Movement at the Bottom of the Blast Holes
At a given depth of blast-hole, the column of explosive material present on it exerts its own weight at
that point, hence higher the depth, higher shall be the density of explosive at that depth. The greater the
pressure on the explosive, the more will be the density and this happens with chemical gassed explo-

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

5 of 9

sives. Gas bubbles compress and get too small in deep boreholes. With time they also tend to agglomerate and the bubbles get too large and even "bleed out" of the surface of the emulsion and the explosive
loses its sensitivity and reduces to dead-press condition and results into partial or complete blast failure,
and serious toe problems. But with PPAN blended emulsion we can overcome this issue due to inbuilt
higher voids as explained earlier. Therefore, with assured sensitization and higher gas energy, blended
emulsion generates better fragmentation and movement of the rock mass. Hence, we dont encounter toe
at the bottom that eliminates redrilling and reblasting of bottom portion and improves the explosive
loading factor.
The results of research findings and exercises encouraged us to undertake trial blasts with PPAN blended bulk emulsion explosive in different types of strata of mines to see the blast performance and to quantify the improvement in explosive loading factor. Trial blasts were conducted in the surface coal mines
of Northern Coalfields Limited.
Field Trial Blasts
A bulk emulsion explosive is the main energy source for blasting in NCL surface coal mines, where
most of the explosives are straight emulsion. Nowadays huge deduction on account of explosive loading
factor and poor blast performance is being done from suppliers account. In some mines of NCL, deduction against explosive loading factor is upto 20% and on an average there is 5% deduction in NCL. To
evaluate the performance of blast with PPAN blended emulsion explosives, following trial blasts were
conducted.
(A) Trial Blasts at Bina Surface Coal Mines (NCL)
The Bina mine handles 14 million cubic meters of overburden and around 4.5 million metric tons of coal
in a year. There are four types of benches, shovel, dragline, coal and outsourcing benches and all are
having different norms of explosive loading factor. The benches are 5 m to 30 m (16.4 ft to 98.43 ft)
height. The details of blasting parameters are shown in Table 5and Table 6 below.
Table 5: Trial blasts at Bina surface coal mine (NCL)

Bench

Explosive
Type

Shovel

Straight
Blend
(10%)

Dragline

Straight
Blend
(10%)

Bench
Height
(m)
[ft]

Spacing
(m)
[ft]

Burden
(m)
[ft]

Stemming
(m)
[ft]

5
[16]
5
[16]
29
[95]
29
[95]

5
[16]
5
[16]
11
[36]
11
[36]

4
[13]
4
[13]
9
[30]
9
[30]

2.8
[9]
3
[10]
6
[20]
6
[20]

Deck
(m)
[ft]

nil
nil
nil
1
[3.3]

Explosives
(kg)
[lb]

Explosive
loading
factor
3
(kg/m )
[lb/ yd3]

8250
[18265]
7500
[16535]
12880
[28395]
12320
[27161]

0.55[0.
92]
0.50
[0.84]
0.56
[0.94]
0.54
[0.90]

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

%
improveme
nt in explosive
loading
factor

8.7

4.3

6 of 9

Table 6: Trial blasts at Bina surface coal mine (NCL)

Bench

Explosive
Type

Shovel

Straight
Blend
(10%)

Shovel

Straight
Blend
(10%)

Shovel

Straight
Blend
(10%)
Straight

Shovel

Shovel

Blend
(10%)
Straight
Blend
(10%)

Bench
Height
(m)
[ft]

Spacing
(m)
[ft]

Burden
(m)
[ft]

Stemming
(m)
[ft]

9[30]
13.5
[44]
13.5
[44]
5.5
[18]

5
[16]
5
[16]
9
[30]
9
[30]
9
[30]
9
[30]
5
[16]

3.3
[11]
3.4
[11]
5
[16]
5.25
[17]
5
[16]
5
[16]
3.3
[11]

5.5
[18]
5.5
[18]
5.5
[18]

5
[16]
5
[16]
5
[16]

4
[13]
4
[13]
9
[30]
9
[30]
9
[30]
9
[30]
4
[13]
4
[13]

5.5
[18]
5.5
[18]
9
[30]

4
[13]
4
[13]

3.4
[11]
3.3
[11]
3.4
[11]

Deck
(m)
[ft]

nil
nil
nil
nil
1
[3.3]
1.5
[5]
nil

nil
nil
nil

Explosives
(kg)
[lb]

Explosive
loading
factor
(kg/m3)
[lb/ yd3]

10450
[23038]
9880
[21782]
4875
[10748]
4725
[10417]
9945
[21925]
9360
[20635]
1650
[3638]

0.5
[0.84]
0.47
[0.79]
0.45
[0.75]
0.43
[0.73]
0.51
[0.85]
0.48
[0.80]
0.5
[0.84]

1560
[3439]
3025
[6669]
2860
[6305]

0.47
[0.79]
0.5
[0.84]
0.47
[0.79]

% explosive loading factor

improvement

5.95

2.67

5.88

5.95

5.95

The trial blasts were conducted in Shovel and dragline benches (medium / hard rock), bench height was
5 m to14.5 m (16.40 ft to 47.57 ft) and 29 m (95.14 ft) in shovel and dragline benches respectively. It
was a comparative trial blasts between straight vs. PPAN blended Emulsion explosive The evaluation of
blast performance has been done in respect of fragmentation, muck profile and excavator loading performance. In our observation, we found out that blasts performance is better than the existing ones and
there is an improvement of approx. 6% in explosive loading factor. We also conducted time study of the
mucking operation in the above trial blasts for evaluation of efficiency of the excavator. We recorded
that bucket loading time with respect to quantity of material loaded for a period of two hours in each
blast. The average quantity of material loaded in one hour was 467 long tons (475 tonnes) and 507 long
tons (515 tonnes) for straight and blended emulsion explosives blasted materials respectively. Therefore,
there was an improvement of 8.5% in productivity of excavator.
(B) Trial Blasts at Amlori Surface Coal Mines (NCL)
Amlori open cast project under NCL is one of the open cast project with a capacity to produce approximate 6 million metric ton of coal/year. There are two coal seams of purwa bottom and purwa top. The
sand stone in between two seams is fine grains and its compressive strength is 300 kg/cm2 to400 kg/cm2
(4,267 psi to 5,689 psi). Majority of the benches of mine was full of back break, undulating floor and
hanging boulder irrespective of soft, medium and hard rock. In most of the benches charging and blast-

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

7 of 9

ing is done with straight/FGAN blended bulk emulsion. The achieved explosive loading factors of the
mine in last three years ranged between 0.61 kg/m3 to 0.55 kg/m3 (1.03 lb/yd3 to 0.93 lb/yd3) and 0.8
kg/m3 to 0.59 kg/m3 (1.35 lb/yd3 to 1.0 lb/yd3 ) in shovel and dragline benches respectively. The projected explosive loading factors of the mine are 0.5 kg/m3 to 0.45 kg/m3 (0.84 lb/yd3 to 0.77 lb/yd3) for
Medium hard Shovel bench, 0.67 kg/m3 to0.63 (1.12 lb/yd3 to 1.05 lb/yd3) for Hard Shovel Bench and
0.59 kg/m3 to0.56 kg/m3 (1.0 lb/yd3 to 0.94lb/yd3 ) for Dragline bench, Nabiullah and Pingua7. In
view of above, the trial blasts were conducted in Dragline & Shovel benches targeting maximum improvement in explosive loading factor along-with better blast performance. To enhance the blast performance, blended (15% to 20%) bulk emulsions were used for charging of blast holes. The bench height
was 12m to18 m (39.37 ft to 59.10 ft) and 25 m to 27m (82.02 ft to 88.58 ft) in shovel and dragline
benches respectively. The details of blasting parameters are shown in Table 7.
Table 7: Blast performance with PPAN blended bulk emulsion in different blast design parameters

Bench

Shovel
(hard bench)
Shovel
Dragline
Shovel
Shovel( very
hard bench)
Shovel
Shovel
Shovel

Bench
Height
(m)
[ft]

15-17
[49-56]
9-10
[30-33]
27-28
[89-92]
15-16
[49-52]
18
[59]
15
[49]
16
[52]
15-16
[49-52]

Burden
(m)
[ft]

7-8
[23-26]
8-8.5
[26-28]
7.5-8.0
[25-26]
8-8.5
[26-28]
8.0
[26]
8.0
[26]
8.0
[26]
8.0
[26]

Spacing
(m)
[ft]

10-12
[33-39]
9-9.5
[30-31]
10.5
[34]
10-10.5
[33-34]
8.0
[26]
10.5
[34]
10.5
[34]
9.0
[30]

Emulsion Explosive @15%

to 20% PPAN
blending
(kg/hole)
[lb/hole

650
[1430]
275
[605]
1350
[2970]
650
[1430]
650
[1430]
530
[1166]
550
[1210]
550
[1210]

Projected
.explosive
loading factor
3
( kg/m )
[lb/ yd3]

0.63
[1.05]
0.48
[0.8]
0.59
[0.99]
0.48
[0.8]
0.67
[1.12]
0.48
[0.8]
0.48
[0.8]
0.48
[0.8]

Achieved explosive loading

factor.
3
( kg/m )
3
[lb/ yd ]

0.54
[0.91]
0.43
[0.73]
0.53
[0.89]
0.47
[0.79]
0.63
[1.05]
0.43
[0.73]
0.43
[0.73]
0.43
[0.73]

Results

good
good
good
good
good
good
good
good

The data in Table7 shows that the explosive loading factor of blasts with PPAN blended emulsions were
improved by more than 10% with desired blast results. The significance monetary benefits of PPAN
blending with emulsion explosive based on above scientific and field studies is illustrated as below.
Benefit Illustration
The blending of emulsion matrix with PPAN imparts sensitivity, relatively higher energy and the VOD
to the product which results in decrease in explosive loading factor. In the actual field practice, the
blasters take an overall view of techno-economic benefits for application of explosives for rock blasting.
The field trial blasts that were conducted by the blended emulsion products with different percentage of
PPAN in emulsion matrix indicated the following results:

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

8 of 9

S
No
1
2
3

Average Deduction Due % of PPAN Blend- Increase in Benefit Availed

to Non-achievement of ed with Emulsion to Product Cost (% Sales price)
explosive loading factor offset Deduction
(%)
(% of Sale price)
5.0
10.0
2.0
3.0
7.5
15.0
3.5
5.0
10.0
20.9
4.5
7.5

Conclusions
The blending of bulk emulsion explosives with PPAN results in considerable increment in VOD and gas
energy that enhances the blast performance in respect of better fragmentation and muck profile. The improved blast performance increases the productivity of HEMM. The PPAN blended bulk emulsion explosive offers expansion of the drill pattern that results into saving on account of drilling costs. With assured sensitization and higher gas energy of blended emulsion, also results in better fragmentation and
movement at the bottom of deep bore hole. This eliminates toe problem, redrilling and reblasting cost.
Therefore, above studies show that blasting with PPAN blended bulk emulsion explosives generate considerable saving to coal miners and explosive manufactures as well. On the basis of laboratory studies
and field trial blasts with PPAN blended bulk emulsion, the following conclusions may be made:
1. With PPAN blending both energy and VOD of explosives increases significantly.
2. With 10% to 20% PPAN blended bulk emulsion, the explosive loading factor improved by minimum 7% to 12% and corresponding saving of 3% to 7.5% of selling price of explosive to the explosive supplier.
3. The improved blast and explosive loading factor with PPAN blended emulsion provides technoeconomic benefits to explosives manufacturers as well as mine owners
4. Blending with PPAN also improves the sleeping period of bulk emulsion explosive in bore-holes.
5. Blending with PPAN reduces problem of dead pressing and eliminates toe formation in rock.
6. Blending with PPAN improves the reliability of blast and reduces the chances of poor performance.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to DFPCLand CIMFR for permitting the paper to publish and present. The
views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and not necessarily of DFPCL and CIMFR.
References
1. Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, India, Technical Report, December 2009, Study on
Low and High Density Ammonium Nitrate Prills for Blasting Application.
2. Cook,M.A., 1974, The Science of Industrial Explosives".
3. ISEE Blasters Handbook, 1998, pp101.
4. Jhon, S M.,Factors That Affect the Chemical Gassing of Emulsion explosives.
5. Konya,C J, Walter,E J,1983, Rock Blasting Manual,FHWA, PP95-88.
6. Larry.Schneider.,1997, The Journal of Explosives Engineering, March/April.
7. Nabiullah and BMP Pingua.,2013, Rock Blasting and Explosives Performance, IMEJ,Feb13,PP
7-14.

Copyright 2014 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2014G - Enhance Blast Performance by Using PPAN Blended with Emulsion Explosives

9 of 9