8 replies to this topic

[TzaRocket]

God has sended his light on me,and I got 60 kg of NaClO3.So far I manage to make a very good whistle mix whit sodium benzonate.Here is a video of how it burns: whistle mix.I tested it and it works,the rochets whistle like hell and fly very high.



Now besides transforming it into other clorates what can I do whit it?

[marble]

Use it to kill some weeds?

nah, set up a kclo4 cell. Will be much easier starting with sodium chlorate

[Caramanos2000]

Send some my way and get some extra $#$

[BigBang]

This isnt used in pyro coz its very hygroscopic, so there isnt much you can do with it. However it does make good flash paper

Edited by BigBang, 23 June 2007 - 11:51 AM.

[TzaRocket]

I don't know,but my laboratory is in my basement where there is a lot of humidity.I made some whistle mix and left it in something not covered.The next day I used it and it worked perfectly.In concluzion I don't think it is that hygroscopic.

More tests will sone to come!

Edited by TzaRocket, 23 June 2007 - 12:48 PM.

[BigBang]

I dont want to get into an arguement but i think you'll find it is! Read up on it and you'll see. Leaving it overnight isnt really long enough for it to absorb much water, but if you leave it for a few days it will.

[Frozentech]

I don't know,but my laboratory is in my basement where there is a lot of humidity.I made some whistle mix and left it in something not covered.The next day I used it and it worked perfectly.In concluzion I don't think it is that hygroscopic.

More tests will sone to come!

It is indeed very hygroscopic. According to A.A. Shidlovskiy, in Fundamentals of Pyrotechnics, Sodium Chlorate has a critical relative humidity of 75%. That is to say, when relative humidity is over 75%, it will deliquesce or literally melt into a puddle over time.

He also points out that "compounds with values below 92.5 are usable only with difficulty, those with values below 80% are unusable in fireworks."

Of course there are exceptions, such as making up a batch and using it immediately, etc. There are also other less obvious shortcomings to hygroscopic salts in pyro, such as reactions that occur or speed up when moisture is added to the composition, leading to little problems such as spontaneous combustion, degraded effects, and who knows what.

[edit] An example of what can happen that I just recalled. A commercial 6" ball shell that obviously had hygroscopic compounds.. I found one last year in a magazine and this shell was wrecked, it was literally dripping fluid, and it looked more like a rotten melon than a firework !

Edited by Frozentech, 23 June 2007 - 05:39 PM.

[TzaRocket]

My bad...you are right.But I don't think that it's hygroscopicity should be a reason to not use it.And I don't make large amounts at a time and I keep it confined in a plastic container.

[BrightStar]

[edit] An example of what can happen that I just recalled. A commercial 6" ball shell that obviously had hygroscopic compounds.. I found one last year in a magazine and this shell was wrecked, it was literally dripping fluid, and it looked more like a rotten melon than a firework !

One pyro experience I remember as a kid was being asked to make some small flash pots for outdoor amateur theatricals. The test shots the day before worked perfectly given my very limited supplies - sodium nitrate, charcoal, and some magnesium powder ignited with loops of nichrome. It was a great effect that fired on cue with a brilliant yellow flash and lots of sparks - I was really pleased.

The next morning, I was a little concerned that the composition (stored in the garage) appeared to have almost doubled in volume... I carried on with the show, but by then it was completely dud of course - just too damp to do anything.

But hey... that's how we learn...

Edited by BrightStar, 23 June 2007 - 10:43 PM.