Detonation velocity of emulsion explosives containing cenospheres

The detonation velocity of an emulsion explosive containing hollow alumosilicate microspheres (cenospheres) as the sensitizer is measured. The size of the microspheres is 50–250 $\mu$m. The relations between the detonation velocity and the charge density and diameter are compared for emulsion explosives containing cenospheres or glass microballoons as the sensitizer. It is shown that for a 55 mm diameter charge, the maximum detonation velocity of the composition with cenospheres of size 70–100 $\mu$m is 5.5–5.6 km/sec, as well as for 3M glass microballoons. The critical diameter for the emulsion explosive with cenosphere is 1.5–2 times larger than that for the emulsion explosive with glass microballoons and is 35–40 mm.