CaAN?

[MadMat]

I have been looking into different rocket fuel/oxidizer compositions lately (just out of curiosity). Well I ran across some instant ice packs while shopping the other day and knew they utilized ammonium nitrate and water. I also vaguely remembered a rocket comp using AN and aluminum powder. So, for literally a couple dollars, I bought the instant ice packs, only to find when I got home that they contain "calcium ammonium nitrate". Am I correct in assuming that this was to "antiterrorist" instant ice packs? Is this compound simply co-crystallized calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate? Will this work as I intend it to or did I just waste $2.00?

Edited April 20, 2017 by MadMat

[chuckufarley]

From what I understand most instant cold packs now use urea instead of AN.

[MadMat]

Well I did some internet research and found that "calcium ammonium nitrate" or CAN is a combination of calcium carbonate and ammonium nitrate. I guess I should have done the research before posting . The ice packs I bought do contain this as it is listed on the package. I also did some digging on the rocket comp I vaguely remembered and was correct. I don't have the percentages yet but, it is; ammonium nitrate, aluminum powder, charcoal and a resin of some type to act as a binder. I will need to do more research to find out the exact percentages and what to use as a binder. If CAN is useable, I imagine that changes the stoichiometry of a composition calling for pure ammonium nitrate; that is, if it will work at all.

Edited April 20, 2017 by MadMat

[greenlight]

My favorite cold packs went from pure AN to just urea in a month. I brought 8 packs unfortunately before I discoered this.

I am fairly sure I have read of people extracting the ammonium nitrate from the CaN.

 

Dissolving in boiling water, filtering the solids and then crystallizing and recrystallizing the AN was the way they did it I think.

A bit laborous but if you really want the AN.........

Edited April 20, 2017 by greenlight

[lloyd]

If you really want AN, buy it from a greenhouse supply. Sure, they'll want ID, and it will have taggants in it... but so what?

 

Lloyd

[MadMat]

I really don't want to perform a labor intensive procedure just to save these cold packs It was just a spur of the moment purchase. Anyone out there know anything about the rocket comp I mentioned? (psst Lloyd?)

[lloyd]

Mat... no, actually. I've made four or five AN composites in my entire career. I had a contract with the US Forestry service to make shotgun-launched 'remote fire-starters', and they initially specified AN/HTPB composites. I later convinced them they'd get better shelf life switching to KClO4 and a burn-rate modifier to make it last the same length of time as the AN mixes.

 

We were able to add a couple of gas-enhancers to the package to get the flame-envelope to the required size, and they were tickled to death that the things didn't 'go south' on the shelf in less than a year.

 

But that was my last foray into AN work.

 

However, I certainly can buy 'tagged' AN at my local fern-growers' supply. It's cheap, even by the 50lb bag... and they sell pumper-trucks full of it in slurry form, also, for below-the-surface "injection fertilization" of crops.

 

Lloyd

Edited April 20, 2017 by lloyd

[MadMat]

I found a website that contained a vast amount of information on various rocket comps using AN. I believe any further discussion should be in the appropriate forum though.

What I have found out about CAN; it is commonly used for a fertilizer. Calcium isn't listed on the NPK for fertilizer, but is an important nutrient. I know we have "limed" our soybean fields (I'm rather new to the whole farming thing, but Im learning!). Which makes me wonder if some of the AN bought at a nursery shop isn't in fact, CAN.

Edited April 20, 2017 by MadMat