murderskill Posted May 14, 2006 Posted May 14, 2006 Hello I was just wondering. Is there a shelf life on aluminum, kclo4, kclo3 or any types of chemicals i should really know about. Like if it sits will it get dangerous or just plain old wont work like its supposed to.Thank you
al93535 Posted May 14, 2006 Posted May 14, 2006 If properly stored they should last many many years. I would guess 20 or more years.Keep the chems in sealed containers, and keep them dry. Only a few chemicals will be ruined by getting wet, or become dangerous. Magnesium for one. Barium nitrate will cake up into rock hard clumps. The aluminum, KClO3 and KClO4 should still be okay if they were wetted, and will not become dangerous. Uncoated aluminum would do worse then coated. However you should store all of your chemicals in airtight containers.
aquaman Posted May 14, 2006 Posted May 14, 2006 I agree with AL. I've had KNO3 in my garage for more than 5 years (one of my parents moved it and I forgot about it). When I found it, I tested it and it was fine. It was a little clumpy but easily powdered again.
Canadian_Pyro Posted May 14, 2006 Posted May 14, 2006 Storage of oxidizers should not be a problem. Metals and mixtures containing metals and oxidizers (especially hydroscopic compounds) are what you have to worry about. Aluminum will store forever. It forms an extremely hard layer of Al2O3 when exposed to air, and this layer protects the Al underneath. Only strong bases such as NaOH or strong acids such as HCl can remove this layer. Metals like magnesium do not store well, as magnesium forms a protective oxide layer like aluminum, but this layer is quite porous, and thus, the particle can convert completly to MgO with continued exposure to oxygen. Storage in a sealed container is a must.
artificier Posted May 14, 2006 Posted May 14, 2006 I found abandoned firework on a firing ramp of the great firework competition at montreal.the firework device i found have 20 years.its a small 50mm plastic shell titanium salute.i just put new fuse,add liftcharge and i will fired the firework perfectly,and the firework deflagrate to make a huge bang
al93535 Posted May 14, 2006 Posted May 14, 2006 Oh c'mon, you found a salute shell on the ground after it has been there 20 years? How did you know it was 20 years old? In 20 years noone found it huh? Quit posting crap. Please think before you post. We do not need anymore one-line replies, or new topics from you.
murderskill Posted May 16, 2006 Author Posted May 16, 2006 O boy.. So ya thanks for the answers guys!
Frozentech Posted May 16, 2006 Posted May 16, 2006 O boy.. So ya thanks for the answers guys! Well, I don't have a good personal example, but I have heard credible reports from professional pyro display operators that they have tested aerial salute shells from the 1950's and 1960's that worked perfectly. If stored in a dry atmosphere, flash powder should last several decades at least. Insect damage to shell casings is more likely to happen over that amount of time.
iv81 Posted May 17, 2006 Posted May 17, 2006 Oh c'mon, you found a salute shell on the ground after it has been there 20 years? How did you know it was 20 years old? In 20 years noone found it huh? Quit posting crap. Please think before you post. We do not need anymore one-line replies, or new topics from you.I believe he meant he kept it for 20 years AFTER finding it. Duh!
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