REFORMULATION OF RECLAIMED PBX MATERIALS FOR COMMERCIAL USE

DISPOSAL OF DEMILITARIZED EXPLOSIVES IS A GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. THE CONVERSION OF DEMILITARIZED EXPLOSIVES INTO A COMMERCIAL EXPLOSIVE COULD PROVIDE A COST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DISPOSAL WHILE POTENTIALLY REDUCING DRILLING COSTS BY REDUCING THE REQUIRED SIZE OF BOREHOLES. PHASE I PROPOSES TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF FORMULATION PBX EXPLOSIVES DEMILITARIZED BY WATERJET INTO COMMERCIAL ROCK BLASTING EXPLOSIVES. THE GOAL IS TO INCORPORATE THE WASHOUT WATER, PROCESS WATER, CHARCOAL FILTER MATERIAL, PBX AND BINDER INTO THE FINAL EXPLOSIVE. THE FINAL EXPLOSIVE WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY A MODERATE BURNING RATE, A HIGH HEAT OF EXPLOSION, AND PRODUCTION OF LARGE GAS VOLUMES. IN ADDITION TO MODIFICATIONS OF PBX WASHOUT MATERIALS, THE EFFORT WILL INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF A PROPOSED PROCESS DESIGN FOR RECLAIMING DEMILITARIZED EXPLOSIVES.