Swede Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 At the local Hobby Lobby, I was in the candle section to pick up some paraffin wax for rocket nozzles. I found the paraffin, and I also found a pound of Stearic acid, fairly cheap. I know stearic acid (wax) is used in pyro, especially for coating reactive metals, and also in a few comps. Any suggestions as to uses for this stuff? I did buy a pound - I couldn't resist. Anyway, if you need stearic acid quick, a DIY candle place may very well have some. Apparently it is used in homemade candles... for what, I don't know!
FrankRizzo Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 It can be used to ball mill aluminum foils into flake powder. Shred your foil as small as possible (cross-cut paper shredder), then add 5% stearic acid by weight, and 100% of the weight in mineral spirits. Mill in an optimized ball mill with steel media for 30-36 hrs to obtain 30µm or smaller flake powder. This material will be comparable with american dark. Stearic acid is also used as a fuel in some lance compositions and older blue star formulas containing paris green.
tentacles Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 How much was it, if I might ask? Artstuf has it for like $2/lb in 5lb increments. I wonder if milling MgAl with it would make for a finer particle? Also, might it be suitable for coating brake turnings?
justanotherpyro Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 If its going to be a coating the fine metal powders it would make it safer to ball mill them and decrease the chance of them becoming pyrophoric. So it is probably worth it from a safety standpoint.
Swede Posted May 24, 2008 Author Posted May 24, 2008 How much was it, if I might ask? Artstuf has it for like $2/lb in 5lb increments. I wonder if milling MgAl with it would make for a finer particle? Also, might it be suitable for coating brake turnings? It was more than $2/lb, more like $4/lb, but no shipping because it was right there. It was one of those surprising moments when a known pyro chemical stares you in the face, innocently packaged for candle-makers. You simply MUST buy it.
Bonny Posted June 6, 2008 Posted June 6, 2008 How much was it, if I might ask? Artstuf has it for like $2/lb in 5lb increments. I wonder if milling MgAl with it would make for a finer particle? Also, might it be suitable for coating brake turnings? For MgAl, how fine are you trying to get? I have milled to easily pass 250mesh (finest screen i have), but quite a bit was floating out of the container so much finer. For brake turnings, I seperated into -20+40, -40+60 and -60+100, then coated with linseed oil after first washing with mineral spirits.In each case, gotta love that shaker mixer I bought for sifting!
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