Research Progress on the Design and Performance Optimization of Emulsion Explosives for Precision Blasting

Blasting engineering, as a foundational industry, requires precise control over blasting outcomes and adverse effects. With the gradual promotion of the application of blasting engineering, the concept of precision blasting—seeking precise control over blasting outcomes and adverse effects—has emerged. Then, as the cornerstone and energy source of blasting engineering, the performance of emulsion explosives is crucial to the refinement of blasting engineering and the implementation of precision blasting principles. However, traditional emulsion explosives have inherent limitations in terms of energy output accuracy, stability, and environmental adaptability. These three types of limitations correspond to the explosion properties, physical and chemical properties, and environmentally benign design of emulsion explosives. So, to overcome these constraints, researchers have pursued innovative approaches, and this review synthesizes recent research advances across three domains: Customized regulation of explosive energy output performance. Quantitative regulation of fundamental physicochemical properties of emulsion explosives. And optimization of explosive safety and environmental compatibility. It highlights key findings in the microstructure design, formulation component optimization, interfacial regulation mechanisms, and detonation performance enhancement. Furthermore, it analyzes stability improvements in emulsion explosives based on breakthroughs through sensitization technology innovations and composite functional additive design. This review provides theoretical support for novel emulsion explosive formulation design and process optimization, while providing references for developing customized explosives for precision blasting applications.