The book describes the science and technology of formulation and manufacturing of non-nitroglycerine explosives with ammonium nitrate as the main ingredient. Based on the authors industry experience of more than thirty years, it provides an unparalleled treatment of one of the commercially most important classes of explosives and therefore stimulates further research and development efforts in the field of explosives for civil applications.

Erode Mahadevan is currently a Technology Consultant based in India. Before that for more than thirty years he was engaged in the field of commercial explosives and accessories and specialty chemicals. He has worked with many multinational companies such as ICI (UK), BASF (Germany), Atlas Chemicals (USA), Dow Chemical (USA), Nitro Nobel (Sweden), Dyno Industries (Norway). For twenty years Erode Mahadevan was Managing Director of IDL Industries Ltd., a leading producer of civil explosives based in India. He holds a Masters Degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Mysore, Bangalore, and a PhD from the Technische Hochschule in Karlsruhe, Germany. Before starting his career in industry, Erode Mahadevan was a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry at the Columbia University, New York.

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
Initiation Sensitivity
Size
Usage
Physical Form
EXPLOSIVE SCIENCE
Introduction
Initiation and Detonation
Propagation and Detonation
Reaction Chemistry
AMMONIUM NITRATE EXPLOSIVES
Introduction
Design of Commercial Explosives
Tests
AMMONIUM NITRATE
Background
Chemistry of Ammonium Nitrate
Manufacture of Ammonium Nitrate
AMMONIUM NITRATE /
FUEL OIL EXPLOSIVES
Introduction
Manufacture
Properties of Ammonium Nitrate Prills for Ammonium Nitrate /
Fuel Oil Explosives
Characteristics of Ammonium Nitrate /
Fuel Oil Explosives
Safety Considerations
Quality Checks
SLURRIES AND WATER GELS
Development
Design
Manufacturing Technology
Quality Checks
Process and Health Hazards
Role of Guar GUm
Permissible Explosives
General Purpose Small Diameter Product
Sensitizers
EMULSION EXPLOSIVES
Introduction
Concept
Compositions
Structure and Rheology
Ingredients
Manufacture
Quality Checks
Explosive Properties
Permissible Emulsions
General Purpose Small Diameter Product
Bulk Emulsions
Packaged Large Diameter Emulsions
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Laboratory and Pilot Plant
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Safety in Ammonium Nitrate /
Fuel Oil
Safety in Water Gels and Emulsions
Summary of Safety Measures
Electrostatic Hazards
Lightening Protection
Runaway Reactions
Explosion Hazards in Equipment
Waste Disposal