Test of modified red 1870 composition

[Potassiumchlorate]

Original composition:

 

Strontium nitrate 48

Potassium chlorate 16

Sulfur 12

Mercurous chloride 8

Chertier's copper 4

Shellac 4

Fine charcoal 1

 

Modified composition:

 

Strontium nitrate 36

Potassium chlorate 36

Sulfur 12

Shellac 4

Phenolic resin 2

Fine charcoal 1

PVC 1

 

Although I used equal amounts of strontium nitrate and potassium chlorate, it burned a bit sluggish. Chertier's copper might have made it burn faster.

 

Although I didn't fire this from a star gun, I used phenolic resin as a binder. The burst charges back then must have been pretty weak, or 4.3% of shellac as a binder might never had worked.

 

This is a dangerous composition, since it contains potassium chlorate and sulfur. If you try it, it is totally at your own risk.

Edited December 27, 2012 by Potassiumchlorate

[Pirotecnia]

Nice color!

[Potassiumchlorate]

Yes. It was called "crimson" in the original text. With 4.3% Chertier's copper - a copper chlorate/ammonia complex - it would most probably have burned faster and with a little more crimson colour.

 

I consider it relatively safe to mix chlorates with sulfur if using an alcohol soluble binder, although I can't guarantee it, of course.

[AirCowPeacock]

I would want a nice thick and strong prime on chlorate-sulfur stars if I used 'em, even though they probably don't need it. Just so I don't have to worry about it after I make them.

[psyco_1322]

That original comp just looks like a mix of some bad chemicals, which happened to burn red.

[Potassiumchlorate]

Well, I wanted to try an old organic red and see what it looked like. I have tried the original ratio strontium nitrate:potassium chlorate too, and you get a nice Bengal fire with it.

 

Mercurous chloride is a really lousy chlorine donor, it seems. Potassium chlorate itself has about twice the chlorine content.

 

Chertier's copper might be interesting, though, but it is very dangerous. From what I understand, it was an accident with Chertier's copper, not with potassium chlorate - or at least the potassium chlorate was not to blame - that lead to the ban of chlorate/sulfur compositions in the UK already in 1875.