Aluminum

[Newbosauras]

Well, this seems like something of a stupid question, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a bit of advice on aluminum. I have a certain degree of familiarity with extremely fine aluminum (think 900- mesh), but I've recently grown tired of all the storage issues and worries because of the extreme fineness of this aluminum making it airfloat. I've disposed of the older aluminum, spectacularly no less, but now I'm stuck in a quandary since I have essentially no experience at all with coarser aluminum. So my question is two fold, at what mesh size is aluminum no longer airfloat? And what is the best mesh size for pyrotechnic compositions, such as thermite, dragons eggs, glitter stars, etc. ?

 

Also I have no particular interest in any flash compounds, so you can factor that out of any advice you have. Thank you in advance.

[Ralph]

well my 3 micron dark al isnt airfloat because it clumps somewhat so in answer to that as fine as you like

 

as for which aluminium is best for glitters dragon eggs and thermite personally i love 200mesh spherical aluminium most people for some reason seem to use 325mesh more but you definitely need spherical/atomised aluminium fro glitters (and for anyone about to say that there are some glitters that use bright flake A he is trying to avoid it and 2 there arnt very many)

 

 

edit: spherical aluminium will definitely not float around in the air (well at-least not in sizes 600mesh and less that i have had experience with)

 

some supliers are http://www.undergroundgadgets.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=769&osCsid=cbef234159c2ebac59ca751770a3b310

 

http://www.skylighter.com/mall/product-details.asp?id=824

 

http://www.americanpyrosupply.com/PYROTECHNIC_METALS-ALUMINUM_ATOMIZED_SPHERICAL_120_MESH_COARSE.html (may be on the coarse side for some things)

 

http://www.americanpyrosupply.com/PYROTECHNIC_METALS-ALUMINUM_ATOMIZED_SPHERICAL_325_MESH_VERY_HIGH_QUA.html

Edited April 5, 2010 by Ralph

[frosty90]

I use bright flake al which is used to make silver paints and coatings, I use it as a metal fuel in some colour stars, and I usually use -200 mesh atomised for glitters etc. The bright flake is insanely messy, you open the continer and a silver cloud flies out at you. It doesnt clump like dark al because it has an aditive of stearine. Anytihng it touches turns silver too. Simply looking at it makes tiny flakes of al foat into the air. The -200 isnt messy at all, it can make a little dust inthe air in larger quantites, but otheriwse its good.

 

I have also made thermite (the reqular iron III oxide type), with the -200 mesh, and it went up quite fast. Things with the -200 tend to be hard to light, but you can fix this by adding some finer al in there. I personally think larger particles are better for tails/glitters etc.

 

Jesse

[Twotails]

For Aluminiums, I use two, a 3 micron dark aluminum, And -325 mesh spherical Atomized. I do use on occasion other shape or sized aluminum, but those are my main aluminums.

 

 

[dagabu]

My suggestion is to get it from Angie.

 

http://aluminumpowderusa.com/

 

It is Exactly the same as the German Dark I have been buying, is not airfloat, does not cake and mixes well. She is a terrific lady to deal with and the price is hard to beat.

 

D

[Ralph]

good work dagabu im sure this aluminium will be excellent for glitters