DeAdFX Posted August 6, 2006 Posted August 6, 2006 Recently I have been trying out some new pyrotechnic compisitions involving Potassium Chlorate* and Aluminum 10um (some of originally thought up by me and others already done). These mixtures have been a partial sucess. The one thing that annoys me is that when I check for residue after burning I see small grey blobs. I have a feeling these grey blobs are uncombusted Aluminum. I thought that Chlorates/Perchlorates and Aluminum work more reliably than nitrate and Aluminum. What gives? I think that the Aluminum powder is atomized which might be causing some issues? Or... The Potassium Chlorate isn't fine enough? Some of my pyrotechnic compisitions as follows....Potassium Chlorate 60%Trioxane 15%Glycerin 15%Aluminum Powder 10um 10% Potassium Chlorate 60%Trioxane 20%Aluminum Powder 10um 20% Potassium Chlorate 60%Trioxane 15%Glycerin 15%Aluminum Powder 10um 5%Charcoal activate particle size unknown 5% *The Potassium Chlorates mesh size is unknown as the seller did not say. The crystals are big. Eye balling the Potassium Chlorate I assume that the mesh is ~30ish at best?
shadopyro Posted August 13, 2006 Posted August 13, 2006 Well, first of all, it really is not a good idea to use cholrates period. By using 30mesh potassium chlorate im surprised that it ignited at all (in other word ballmill it or give it the old pestle and mortar treatment) If your aiming for flash powders then shperical aluminium powder isnt suitable but can work if used with fine potassium chlorate. ...Trioxane, as far as i can remeber thats used as fuel tablets-very similar to hexamine tablets-ami right? if its flash powders one is after, then theres little use in adding extra hydrocarbons to the composition. Now, the most important part, what is the exact effect that your after with this composition?
DeAdFX Posted August 13, 2006 Author Posted August 13, 2006 I am not to interested in exploding fireworks. I have made flash quite a few times. Most of my flashes were nitrate/magnesium based along with a few chlorate/perchlorate/aluminum flashes. Anywho I was wondering how trioxane would fair against hexamine in blue colored flames and a possible hexamine subsitute (I can find trioxane easily but I cannot find hexamine easily). I remember reading that Trioxane has a lower combustion temperature than hexamine( I don't remember how much). Those listed formulas do not have a metal(calcium/barium/strontium/etc) compound in them because I had some trouble finding metal compounds but I was able to find some copper sulfate root killer which helped in the blue department. I will need to obviously add a chlorine donor. I didn't want to waste precious PVC which is why I didn't initially add it. I also have some Ammonium Perchlorate and Potassium Perchlorate but my supply isn't so high in that department hence my usage of Chlorate. EDIT: Yes trioxane is similar to hexamine. They are both used as a source of heat for cooking. However Trioxane is a trimer of formaldehyde while hexamine is derived from ammonia and formaldhyde.
Chemguy Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 An even better way is to use potassium permanganate, it is easily made into a very fine powder, and makes the flash powder burn VERY fast. The grey globules may be a product of the reaction, or malted KClO3 with Al mixed in with it.h
Frozentech Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 I am not to interested in exploding fireworks. I have made flash quite a few times. Most of my flashes were nitrate/magnesium based along with a few chlorate/perchlorate/aluminum flashes. Anywho I was wondering how trioxane would fair against hexamine in blue colored flames and a possible hexamine subsitute (I can find trioxane easily but I cannot find hexamine easily). I remember reading that Trioxane has a lower combustion temperature than hexamine( I don't remember how much). Those listed formulas do not have a metal(calcium/barium/strontium/etc) compound in them because I had some trouble finding metal compounds but I was able to find some copper sulfate root killer which helped in the blue department. I will need to obviously add a chlorine donor. I didn't want to waste precious PVC which is why I didn't initially add it. I also have some Ammonium Perchlorate and Potassium Perchlorate but my supply isn't so high in that department hence my usage of Chlorate. EDIT: Yes trioxane is similar to hexamine. They are both used as a source of heat for cooking. However Trioxane is a trimer of formaldehyde while hexamine is derived from ammonia and formaldhyde. What is the normal flame color of the Trioxane ? It's been a while since I saw it, doesn't it have a strong sodium yellow ? If so, it will suck for fuel in most color comps. Perhaps thats just in consumer heat tabs, not in the pure chemical.
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