Prodn. of finely crystalline saline initial explosive, useful in detonators - by high speed stirring at specified speed into ultrasonic region preventing explosion caused by shattered crystals

摘要

Prodn. of finely crystalline saline initial explosive (I) from aq. soln. involves stirring the soln. with a rotor-stator stirrer operating at over 1000 rpm up to into the ultrasonic region during pptn. of (I). Pref. (I) is Pb azide (IA), Pb trinitroresorcinate, Pb picrate and/or Ag azide. A crystal growth inhibitor, pref. dextrin, PVA, malic acid and/or alkali metal citrate, may be added during or before pptn. In particular, a stoichiometric amt. of aq. Pb nitrate soln. is added to aq. NaN3 soln. opt. contg. a small amt. of aq. Na citrate soln., whilst stirring as above and opt. removing heat of reaction, stirring is continued for a short time, then (IA) is sepd. from the supernatant soln. and opt. washed and dried. USE/ADVANTAGE - (I) with an average particle size of under 50, (pref. 10-40 or 1-10) microns is obtd. (claimed), making it suitable for electric detonator mixts. Rapid stirring during pptn. avoids shattering the (I) crystals formed, which would lead to explosions