22 replies to this topic

[MDH]

I'm not sure. The stuff I have is 30 years old, hehe... For medical purposes.

You could always just try mark from CCDCO, he's got strontium and barium sulfate.

You could make sulfate out of sulfuric acid and carbonate but I think that'd be more expensive than just buying it (second to how safe and insensitive it is it's also viable for how cheap it is).

If all else fails you could just 50 Barium Nitrate, 25 Sulfur, 25 paulownia (or other super high grade) charcoal or dark aluminum with borate. Insensitive and great for multipurpose. Loose it acts like flash. Pressed it makes impressive limey white stars. It's also an excellent rocket formula provided you don't make the rocket too tall, and acts okay as a fountain (ratios may need adjusting there).

I also discovered that by adding paraffin to this mixture you can make it pop with bright green and silver lights.

Edited by MDH, 05 February 2008 - 09:10 PM.

[GalFisk]

And where might I find Barium sulfate? Isn't it used for enemas and dentistry?

It's used as an x-ray contrast agent, since it absorbs x-rays and is nontoxic (soluble barium salts are quite toxic). I think it's also used in pottery.

[Bonny]

It's used as an x-ray contrast agent, since it absorbs x-rays and is nontoxic (soluble barium salts are quite toxic). I think it's also used in pottery.

I knew about the medical uses, so noy a likely source foe me. I'll check the product list from my local pottery supply shop.

[pyroguitarman]

So would a potassium nitrate, sulphur, aluminium, and boric acid mixture of flash powder be a pretty stable form of flash powder?

[MMMMMM Pyro]

On a relative scale... so long as its going no where near chlorates... yes:

The Al is protected with H3BO3 and KNO3 doesn't adversely react with S... Only I suppose if you are storing (which you shouldn't be) the Al and S could react in presence of moisture...

Mike

[MDH]

Also, in lesser gram quantities, it has been noted that the powder is much less likely to react. In piles of 10, 15, 25 grams you are more likely to have a runaway.

[pyroguitarman]

Well I wouldn't make large quantities, or store it since you need a licence to store it. Thanks to everyone who has replied!

[pyrotrev]

You might also be interested to know that addition of a few % graphite powder seems to significantly reduce the mechanical sensitivity of many kinds of flash powder.

Edited by pyrotrev, 08 February 2008 - 01:36 PM.