RHEOLOGY CONTROLLED EMULSION

The present invention relates to an emulsion composition with a polymerizing and/or crosslinking agent and methods for its use in improving the manufacturing, packaging, transporting, storage placement and blasting characteristics of explosives containing an emulsion. The present invention is directed to controlling the rheology of an emulsion or explosive containing an emulsion by polymerizing and/or crosslinking the continuous phase of the emulsion by employing hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene and polymerizing agents and/or maleic anhydride adducted polybutadiene and crosslinking agents. The present invention provides compositions and methods of polymerizing and crosslinking emulsion compositions which result in an emulsion whose rheology may be controllably selected, without compromising the integrity of the explosive reaction. The composition of the present invention is comprised of a water-in-oil emulsion containing a continuous external carbonaceous fuel phase, the fuel phase being at least partially polymerized and/or crosslinked.