Potassiumchlorate Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 I'm not sure whether I have posted this before. If I did, I didn't get any answer. I have almost a kilo of 63µm magnalium that distinctively smells of ammonia. I have kept it in the plastic bottle that I bought it in since 2009. Should this even be possible, or is the magnalium impurified by something? I do have extreme air humidity here, which I have mentioned quite a few times. Since this summer was one of the rainiest ever, it's now about 95% relative air humidity indoors most days. Should I simply get rid of the MgAl?
WSM Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) I'm not sure whether I have posted this before. If I did, I didn't get any answer. I have almost a kilo of 63µm magnalium that distinctively smells of ammonia. I have kept it in the plastic bottle that I bought it in since 2009.Should this even be possible, or is the magnalium impurified by something? I do have extreme air humidity here, which I have mentioned quite a few times. Since this summer was one of the rainiest ever, it's now about 95% relative air humidity indoors most days. Should I simply get rid of the MgAl? Hi Potassiumchlorate, If magnalium is exposed to air during manufacture, a percentage of it can be converted to magnesium and aluminum nitrides. If I remember correctly, aluminum nitride combines with moisture (even atmospheric moisture) to produce ammonia and aluminum oxide. I'm not certain, but I think washing it well with water and quickly drying it will remove most, if not all, of the nitrides present. Oldguy uses a method of manufacture where he slowly drops molten magnalium in water to quickly quench the metal. and his final product has no ammonia smell; probably because any nitrides formed are reacted and washed away during the quenching process. [WARNING: quenching molten metal in water is a dangerous operation. If you try this, take adequate measures to protect yourself from spattering metal and steam burns. Wear proper PPE's (personal protective equipment).] Good luck and tell us how this turns out. WSM Edited August 22, 2012 by WSM
50AE Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 My water quenched MgAl has always smelled of ammonia when washing with water. I used to give it a few washes to put the smell to a minimum.
Potassiumchlorate Posted August 22, 2012 Author Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) Thank you, guys It comes to mind: I have Electric Magenta made with this MgAl in 2009. It doesn't smell at all. Edited August 22, 2012 by Potassiumchlorate
dagabu Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 I agree with the others, get a gallon of distilled water and wash the MgAl with a small portion of the water several times then dry it all the way down to 1-2% moisture. Add a desiccant pack in with your plastic bottle and you will be fine. Don't throw it out. -dag
pex Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 I have the same problem here. Only my magnalium smell a bit like rotten eggs. Is it possible t give it a wash with ethanol? Because this will dry faster.
FlaMtnBkr Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 (edited) If it is the aluminum nitride that is giving the rotten egg smell (people's noses are different?) it will need water to dissolve the nitride to remove it as the alcohol won't dissolve it and will leave it behind (if I remember correctly). But a rotten egg smell usually has a sulfur component so not sure why the metal is smelling like rotten eggs. If the metal is mixed into a formula and smells like that then that is another issue entirely. Edited February 14, 2015 by FlaMtnBkr
pex Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 I tried it yesterday. With the ethanol. It's dry now and the smell is gone. It where nuggets and I smached them up to a smaler size. Put the magnalium in a bucket with a llid.and then poor the ethanol over it. Schaked the bucket for ten minutes. And let it sit for a our. This morning i checked. It was dry and I can't smell anny rotten eggs anny more. Only a little bit ethanol smell. I think it workt. Thanks allot Pex
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