ANFO Explosive | ammonium nitrate and fuel oil explosive

Ammonium nitrate- Fuel Oil (ANFO) -

ANFO is a mixture of AN prills and fuel oil. In which AN acts as the fuel. The sensitivity and the performance of ANFO depends upon the quality of prills.

Composition-

                    Ammonium Nitrate- 94.3%
                                Fuel Oil.        - 5.7%

-ANFO is also known as Nitrocarbonitrate. Which is called NCN in short.
 

Characteristic property of ANFO-

1. Velocity of detonation (VOD) - 2000 - 4000m/s
2. Impact sensitivity is - 3 to 3.5 kg/m
3. Density - 0.8 to 1.8 gm /cc
4. Absolute weight strength (AWS) - 930KCal/kg
5. Relative weight strength (RWS) - 100%
6. Relative Bulk strength (RBS) - 100%
7. Water resistance - Poor
8. Hydrophobic in nature.
9. Size of the its solid molecules - 2mm
10. If Al Powder is added into ANFO then Al-ANFO is form.

Advantages of ANFO-

1. Low cost.
2. Suitable for dry holes.
3. Handling is safe.
4. No Required to magazine storage
5. Loading is easy of its free flowing nature.

Disadvantages of ANFO-

1. Water resistance is poor.
2. Not suitable for hot holes.
3. High energy primers are required.
4. Not suitable for small dia holes.
5. Not suitable for sleeping in holes.