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Posted

I want to make flame retardant wadding to minimise fire risk fom cannon etc.

 

Is there any household substance other than 'Borax' (never heard of, nor seen it in this country) that I can use on paper?

Posted
Borax is sodium borate it is a cleaning agent (used in the laundry) othewr things that you may use rather successfully are sodium silicate solution (works better when diluted alittle some people chose to convert it to calcium silicate (not water soluble) once it is soaked in using calcium chloride) for single use wadding sodium bicarbonate may be used
Posted

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is really hard to use on wadding though, it turns back into a powder and flakes off, it can retard the burn in BP in ejection charges on model rockets though it is likely you wont have the problem.

 

I agree with Ralph that Borax or sodium silicate would be better and depending where you live, 20 mule team borax is cheap and you may be able to get water glass (sodium silicate) from a pottery sport by you.

 

It usually comes in a 40% solution and you can dilute it 4:1 for fire proofing wadding. Sodium silicate would be my first choice.

Posted (edited)

Right, I've aquired something that says Borax Na2B4O7.10H20. Now do I make a saturated solution and dip the wadding, then dry?

 

Is it dangerous? Some sources say it's toxic, but 'Borax' seem to be a loosely used term. I'm not sure what to think...

Edited by Oubadah
Posted

Right, I've aquired something that says Borax Na2B4O7.10H20. Now do I make a saturated solution and dip the wadding, then dry?

 

Is it dangerous? Some sources say it's toxic, but 'Borax' seem to be a loosely used term. I'm not sure what to think...

 

It is absolutely DEADLY!!

 

-to roaches-

 

Pretty much inert to humans though. No, dissolve it in solution, 20% I think Is what I have, and spray it on the wadding while on a drying screen. Let it dry and remove. Its super simple to do.

 

Paper towels work well too but you have to use a lot of Borax to really soak them.

Posted
Boric acid is the typical roach killer, but borax is used to treat matresses to prevent burning and fend off some insect pests. It's pretty toxic to insects, but not too bad to humans, though there is emerging evidence to show it is a little more harmful than first believed. It's toxic in the same way table salt is. You need a heck of a lot to get any symptoms. Use gloves and common sense, and you'll be fine.
Posted

Terro Ant Killer is borax, it also disturbs the digestive tracts of any insect that ingests it, it is considered as a 'safe' alternative to Boric Acid in places where strict controls of chemicals is required. Terro is only approved for ants, roaches don't like to eat it but it is just as effective if it is mixed with a food source that they will readily eat.

 

Both Borax and Boric Acid will fire proof with Borax being the safest of the two.

  • 1 year later...
  • 10 months later...
Posted

You can use sodium silicate solution for the same. Apart from that, for single use wadding,sodium bicarbonate might be used as ralph says.

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flame retardant masterbatch

Posted
Often there will be a professional theatre supplies place in your locality who will sell fire"proofing" chemicals in solid, liquid or spray form.
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
How about rock wool wadding? Most construction sites have tons of that stuff, left over.
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