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[KingVinny]

I've been experimenting with thermites for a while and have found the most impressive, so far, to be copper oxide and aluminium thermite in a 4.4 : 1 ratio. It takes a bit to light it, I use another thermite (Zn/Cuo 1:1) which lights it with ease, and use a 7:3 chlorate sugar mix to light that thermite. When confined in something like a film canistor the device explodes similarly to a star mine, shooting out huge white sparks in a big flash, much like stars.

I would really like to attempt a mortar device containing this thermite, but it is a fairly heavy composition. So I'm going to need a really powerful lift powder as it is heavy and needs to be very high when it ignites. What am I best using? Or is this idea flawed from the start?

If this idea is too far fetched do you reckon I could make a thermite rocket?

Has anyone tried any explosive thermite devices, if so I would really like to hear about them.

Also has anyone tried any magnesium powder based thermites??

[Yugen-biki]

There are two ways you can lift a container (in this case with thermite) into the air. Either buy a rockets of by shells in mortars. Both take some time to master. BP is the best way to lift shells up in the air and is powerfull enough to lift what ever you whant. Info about lift powder and shells are found on this forum. There are a lot of info about rockets as well.

Compositions similar to thermite is sometimes used as stars. The one I'm thinking of uses Fe(III)O and Al plus some C, S and KNO3 to light it. The star falls apart in the air and flashes when the Fe and Al react.
One thing to have in mind is the danger of molten metal falling on to property and/or flameable objects.
I have only made some Fe(III)O and Al thermite as a fun experiment. But thermite is not used very often in pyrotechnics.