Detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate and activated fertilizer mixtures

To better understand the detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate (AN) and activated additives mixtures, potassium chloride (KCl) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) are mixed with AN by different mixing methods. The UN gap test and scanning electron microscopy are applied to study AN and AN-additive mixtures. For the mechanical mixing method, the detonation velocity of AN-additives decreases with increasing the additive proportion, while the detonation velocity of modified AN prepared by the solution mixing method shows the opposite tendency. It is proved that the sensitivity to shock waves increases as the size of AN particles decreases. The type of additives, the mixing methods, and the particle size distribution are important parameters that affect the detonation characteristics of AN.