Study on the effects of coal powder water slurry on the performance of bulk emulsion explosives

To improve the performance of bulk emulsion explosives, a coal powder water slurry (CPWS) was prepared and introduced to partially replace ammonium nitrate. The microstructure, particle size distribution, and thermal decomposition behavior of emulsified matrices with different CPWS contents were investigated using optical microscopy, laser particle size analysis, and thermogravimetry. The Kissinger method was applied to calculate activation energy, while detonation velocity and brisance were measured. Results show that both viscosity and explosive performance first increased and then decreased with rising CPWS content. The 6% CPWS formulation exhibited the highest detonation velocity (4103.88 m·s − 1 ) and brisance (11.51 cm), along with the lowest activation energy (118.67 kJ·mol − 1 ). In contrast, 12% CPWS led to the highest activation energy (172.46 kJ·mol − 1 ). Overall, the 6% CPWS composition provided the best balance of viscosity, explosive power, and thermal behavior, demonstrating its potential for practical application.