Military ammunition and derivative materials that have reached the end of their service life are classified as hazardous waste due to the presence of explosives, necessitating proper decommissioning. Valorization of such materials through the reuse of energetic components offers a sustainable alternative, aligning with circular economy principles. This study aims to assess the environmental impact of civilian emulsion explosives (EEs) formulated with nitrocellulose powder derived from recycled ammunition, comparing these findings to traditional EEs and EEs containing standard nitrocellulose powder. The Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) was performed using the CML Baseline v3.07 methodology combined with the Ecoinvent 3.8 database, utilizing inventory data obtained from Polish sources. The results indicate that incorporating nitrocellulose powder into conventional EEs increases the overall environmental impact by 4.5%, while utilizing recycled nitrocellulose powder reduces the impact by 4.99%. This highlights the environmental benefits of recycling energetic materials for use in civilian applications, as it not only reduces hazardous waste and reliance on virgin materials but also supports the principles of the circular economy. By closing the loop on material use, this approach promotes environmental sustainability and resource efficiency, aligning with broader goals of sustainable development.

Emulsion explosives are extensively utilized in the global mining industry due to their superior water resistance, high safety standards, cost-efficiency, and robust performance. The basic component of these explosives is a water-in-oil emulsion matrix, which, in its initial state, lacks the capacity for detonation. The sensitization process, achieved through either physical or chemical means, is a critical step that enhances the emulsion’s sensitivity to detonation, thereby improving its operational efficiency in blasting applications. This review presents a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the current scientific literature and experimental investigations concerning the impact of key sensitizing methods and agents on the detonation characteristics of emulsion explosives. Particular emphasis is placed on the classification of sensitizers, their physicochemical properties, and their interactions with the emulsion matrix. By examining various sensitization mechanisms, this study provides insights into the role and efficacy of both established and emerging sensitizing agents. The findings of this review highlight the pivotal role of sensitizer selection in defining the detonation performance of emulsion explosives, with implications for enhancing safety standards and ensuring the protection of both industrial operations and public safety. The most optimal sensitization method is chemical, utilizing cost-effective components that generate gas bubbles within the matrix. A key advantage is the in situ production of emulsion explosives, which eliminates the need for their transport on public roads, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of terrorist threats.

Numerous fires occurring in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the dangers of the existence of an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. At oxygen concentrations higher than 21%, fires spread faster and more vigorously; thus, the safety of healthcare workers and patients is significantly reduced. Personal protective equipment (PPE) made mainly from plastics is combustible and directly affects their safety. The aim of this study was to assess its fire safety in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. The thermodynamic properties, fire, and burning behavior of the selected PPE were studied, as well as its mechanical and electrostatic discharge properties. Cotton and disposable aprons were classified as combustible according to their LOI values of 17.17% and 17.39%, respectively. Conall Health A (23.37%) and B/C (23.51%) aprons and the Prion Guard suit (24.51%) were classified as self-extinguishing. The cone calorimeter test revealed that the cotton apron ignites the fastest (at 10 s), while for the polypropylene PPE, flaming combustion starts between 42 and 60 s. The highest peak heat release rates were observed for the disposable apron (62.70 kW/m²), Prion Guard suit (61.57 kW/m²), and the cotton apron (62.81 kW/m²). The mean CO yields were the lowest for these PPEs. Although the Conall Health A and B/C aprons exhibited lower pHRR values, their toxic CO yield values were the highest. The most durable fabrics of the highest maximum tensile strength were the cotton apron (592.1 N) and the Prion Guard suit (274.5 N), which also exhibited the lowest electrification capability. Both fabrics showed the best abrasion resistance of 40,000 and 38,000 cycles, respectively. The abrasion values of other fabrics were significantly lower. The research revealed that the usage of PPE made from polypropylene in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere may pose a fire risk.

In this investigation, three different explosive materials have been used to improve the properties of titanium grade 2: ammonal, emulsion explosives, and plastic-bonded explosives. In order to establish the influence of explosive hardening on the properties of the treated alloys, tests were conducted, including microhardness testing, microstructure analysis, and tensile and corrosion tests. It has been found that it is possible to achieve a 40% increase in tensile strength using a plastic explosive (PBX) as an explosive material. On the other hand, the impact of the shock wave slightly decreased the corrosion resistance of titanium grade 2. The change in corrosion rate is less than 0.1µm/year, which does not significantly affect the overall corrosion resistance of the material. The reduction in corrosion resistance is probably due to the surface geometry changes as a result of explosive treatment.

This paper presents the results of detonation parameters for ammonium nitrate-polyhydroxy alcohol mixtures and ternary explosive compositions modified by flaked aluminium. The detonation velocities, overpressures of blast waves and their specific impulses were determined. It was shown that the viscosity of liquid fuels is the leading property that determines the detonation parameters of the tested compositions.

In this work, we have investigated the thermal features of hydrogen peroxide-based energetic materials formulations. Initial research has shown that both the auxiliary oxidiser (sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate or calcium nitrate) and sensitising agent (glass microspheres) have significant influence on the rate of hydrogen peroxide decay in such formulations. In terms of the thermal features of the tested energetic materials, a similar and significant influence of the auxiliary oxidising agent and sensitising agent choice was observed. We have established that the use of calcium nitrate as an auxiliary oxidising agent (at ambient temperature of approx 20 °C), which allows the formulations to maintain capacity to undergo detonation for longer under storage conditions, negatively impacts the qualitative characteristics of the mixture as an energetic material. The thermal effects accompanying chemical interaction are much smaller than mixtures containing potassium and sodium nitrates as additional oxidising agents. Another important conclusion is that glass microspheres as sensitising agents significantly impact the thermal decomposition processes of the investigated on-site mixed (OSM) energetic material (EM) samples, except for the mixture using calcium nitrate.