Technical Data Sheet

Cast boosters

Technical Properties
Cast booster
Product
15 g Stinger 150 g Y-3 C-400 C-800
Nominal charge length
36 120 78 120 120
(mm)
Nominal cartridge length
61 120 192 120 120
(mm)
Nominal cartridge diameter
19 37 85 77 120
(mm)
Nominal cartridge mass
15 150 300 400 800
(g)
Cartridge colour white yellow green red orange
Hole Type Wet and dry

Description
Cast boosters deliver the driving force required for
generating maximum initiating energy and blasting efficiency.
Cast booster consist of Pentolite (PETN and TNT) to assure
their performance when used with shock tube delay
detonators or detonating cords of 8 g/m and above.
The detonator is completely encapsulated in Pentolite on the
150 g, C-400 and C-800 and in a plastic housing on the Y-3,
preventing inadvertent impact on the detonator. A protective
saddle is also included in the base of these boosters to
prevent damage to the detonator’s shock tubing, signal line,
wire or fuse. The Stinger booster does not include such
features due to their difference in application. The booster
design optimises the reliability of initiation, reducing the
chance of misfired holes and therefore, improves the safety
of the products.
Application
They provide reliability, safety and durability for all
underground mining, opencast mining and quarry
applications.
By combining high detonation velocity (7500 m/s) with high
3
density (1.6 g/cm ) Cast boosters optimise detonation
pressure (225 kbar*) and consistently out perform any other
type of commercial boosters.
* Pressure = 2.5 x Density x (Velocity) 2 x 10
Key Benefits
• They are impervious to water and therefore ideal for the
most severe field conditions.
Recommendations for Use
The design of the Cast boosters makes them easy to use. The
detonators can only be inserted the correct way into the
capwell, ensuring the correct orientation of the booster within
the explosive column. The conical booster canister of the C-
400 and C-800 have a skirting molded onto them and the Y-3
has a hole at the bottom which can be used to attach a weight
to prevent the booster from floating in dense explosives.
Priming and Initiation
TM
An Nexa™ or Uni tronic detonator can reliably initiate Cast
boosters as shown in figures 3 and 4.
In the case of the 150 g, C-400 and C-800 a single pass of
detonating cord with a minimum core load of 8 g/m can be
used. For specialised blasting where a lower core load is to
TM
be used such as E-Cord (5 g/m), it is necessary to double
the cord through the cord tunnel as shown in figure 5.
Product Range
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5
The Stinger (figure 1) which is white in colour is used in small
diameter holes (45 mm and less) as found in underground
mining applications. It is designed to slip easily onto the end
of a standard detonator shell.

• Cast boosters cannot freeze and will not leak dangerous
oils if stored under unfavourable conditions.
• They do not contain nitroglycerine and hence cannot
cause “dynamite headaches”.
• They have been safety proven in the standard rife bullet
test, fire test, friction and impact test.
The 150 g booster which is yellow in colour is designed for
use in small blast holes up to 150 mm in diameter typically
found in quarry and coal operations. The size and shape of
the 150 g booster ensures that any detonator or equivalent
used with the product is fully encapsulated. Detonating cord
can also be facilitated as an initiator.

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Technical Data Sheet

Cast boosters

The Y-3 booster (figure 2) is green in colour and conical to Safety

provide an effective and cost efficient means of initiation in Cast boosters contain explosives, which can be initiated by
large diameter holes exceeding 150 mm in diameter typically intense impact, friction or heat. As with all high explosives,
found in opencast mining operations. The Y-3 booster is Cast boosters should be handled and stored with care.
designed to allow the detonation front to fully develop and
DO NOT use these boosters with any detonator, which cannot
flatten before reaching the top surface of the booster thus
be completely contained within the booster. If this is not
increasing the impact of the booster at this contact surface.
observed, damage to the detonator may occur during charging
The C-400 is red in colour and conical to provide an effective which may lead to a premature detonation.
and cost efficient means of initiation in large diameter holes
exceeding 150 mm in diameter. The conical shape ensures Trademarks
the best booster diameter to blast hole diameter The word Orica, the Ring Device and the Orica mark are trademarks of
configuration for the size of the booster. Orica Group Companies. Nexa™ and Uni tronic™ are trademarks of
Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd ACN 075 659 353, 1 Nicholson
The C-800 booster is orange in colour and is designed to be
Street, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
used in the deeper (25 m and more) and larger blast holes to
maximise the booster diameter to hole diameter ratio and Disclaimer
increase the subsequent “Bore-hole Pressure”. As with the The manufacturer reserves the right to modify products without prior
C-400 and Y-3, once in the blast hole, the inverted cone notice. All information in this brochure is believed up-to-date at the
design maximises the surface contact area between the time of publication. Because Orica cannot anticipate or control the
booster and explosive column above it. conditions under which this information and its products may be
used, Orica does not take any responsibility for their suitability for
Packaging use in any particular application other than liabilities implied
Cast boosters are available in the following packaging: mandatorily by law and which cannot be disclaimed. The user is
Product Gross weight Gross weight Cartridge Box expressly responsible to verify the suitability of the information and
cartridge box per box dimensions
the product for use in any particular application. Orica's general
(g) (kg) (items) (mm)
terms and conditions of contract, a copy of which is available upon
15 g stinger 15 12 720 60x60x300
request, apply to all sales and are incorporated by reference.
150 g 150 25 160 355x280x250
y-3 300 18 50 335x335x390 Orica Ghana Limited
c-400 400 25 60 345x310x250 #5 Fifth Street
c-800 800 25 30 460x300x250 Off Senchi Street
Airport Residential Area
Accra
Storage and Handling
Ghana
Product Classification
Phone: + 233 30 2 775 100
Proper Shipping Name: BOOSTER without detonator
Fax: + 233 30 2 767 728
UN No.: 0042
Email: john.jackson@orica.com
Classification: 1.1D
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Storage
Within Senegal: 777666373
Cast boosters should be stored in a suitably licensed
Outside Senegal: + 221 777666373
magazine for Class 1.1D explosives. The cases should be
stacked in the manner designated on the cases.
They have unlimited shelf life with proper storage.

Disposal
Disposal of explosive materials can be hazardous. Methods of
safe disposal of explosives may vary depending on the user’s
situation. Please contact an Orica Technical Representative
for information on safe practices.

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