6 replies to this topic

[W.P]

Recently I've done some small scale experimentation involving zinc powder and potassium perchlorate. I tried a variety of different ratios in order to come up with what I believe to be the best mixture. I concluded that this composition burned the fastest:

Potassium perchlorate 1: Zinc powder 9

(Yes, the oxidising agent is the lesser part)

Obviously I took basic safety procedures which was diapering outside with heavy duty gloves and face mask.

Any thoughts on this composition?

[pudi.dk]

A video or so would certainly help

[MDH]

Yeah-- I'd be really interested to see what this is like.

But how does it compare with simple practicality in comparison to the price, work, etc. involved in the other flashes?

Would it be practical to use?

[spectrum]

I know I come across as a stick in the mud from time to time but a word of caution here.

I worked at a factory once some years ago when, during the processing of a composition containing Zinc there was a very slight ignition. It didn't propagate into anything and initially caused little more than alarm and concern. As a precautionary measure a building was evacuated and all materials removed. This occurred in a damp atmosphere and, before any time at all there were a series of fires which caused real trouble. The problem surrounded exothermic reactions involving the Zinc and so, even by taking this material outside as you say you did this might not make things safe, it could make things worse!

During the incident I refer to there was a delayed accident whereby damp composition was removed to a magazine where it decided to liven the place up some time after the initial fuss had died down. The incident was reported to HSE as a matter of routine of course and an investigation naturally took place. should the same course of events occur at a domestic property it would be a whole new can of worms so please, (and I am not being judgemental) think twice.

[seymour]

Thanks for that Spectrum.

My tests showed that 2g of 1/9 Potassium perchlorate/Zinc is only slightly faster than 2g of 3/7 Sulphur Zinc. The flame is much more yellow than the greenish Zinc/sulphur flame. I have not tried confining it.

[W.P]

My tests showed that 2g of 1/9 Potassium perchlorate/Zinc is only slightly faster than 2g of 3/7 Sulphur Zinc. The flame is much more yellow than the greenish Zinc/sulphur flame. I have not tried confining it.

Pretty much summed up the effect. I won't include a video because I do not have a decent camera- any effect caught on camera is blurred and more than often washed out.

[MDH]

How about reacting sulphur with fine lithium. I know it has very high reduction properties ...