633 replies to this topic

[sir steve]

new poster

And potasium chlorate should not be mixed with copper sulphate.
black copper oxide is much saher,

I have found all starches like Dextrin or SGRS whiten colours especialy blue and
green. I recomend Lactose as in this Sky Blue

KCl03 12
black copper oxide 3
lactose 4
parlon / PVR 1


Steve

[pyromaniac303]

Might be worth testing that one for sensitivity, I know sucrose (normal sugar) sensitizes chlorate quite a bit, and as lactose is milk sugar I would imagine they behave in a similar way.

Having said that, lactose is used in chlorate smoke comps, so I can't see you having a big problem with it, just worth giving some a whack with a hammer on a concrete slab to remind you to be careful with it.

Does the lactose roll well and bind the stars? Or do you use the parlon as the binder by wetting with acetone?

[MDH]

I posted these on another website called PyroGuide. They consist of easily synthesized copper compounds.

Blue Star 1
Copper Sorbate, 20
Saran or Parlon, 10
Potassium Perchlorate, 67
Binder, 3

I suppose chlorate could be used for a stronger flame color but I haven't tested such a composition for sensitivity. Copper Sorbate is much less waxy than Potassium or Sodium sorbate, though it is somewhat less reactive (Potassium Sorbate and Potassium Perchlorate products a powerful deflagration to whistle).

The blue color of this composition is strikingly beautiful, which somewhat contradicts what I said in pyroguide. The compound had to be further dried in order to work well.

And, another star composition:

Borate Blue 1
Potassium Perchlorate, 70
Shellac, 8
Copper Borate, 14
Parlon, 8
Binder, 3

This composition certianly needs altering but still produces a very nice blue color. As none of the chemicals are hygroscopic they can easily be bound with water. Both can be cut or pumped, though I'd recommend just pumping them.

Both compounds can be produced by reacting sodium borate and sodium sorbate with copper sulfate. Their respective copper salts are very insoluble and are easy to filter out of sodium contaminates.

Edited by MDH, 18 November 2009 - 01:30 PM.

[digger]

Some interesting compositions there. Do you have any video of these?

Have you tried subbing out the sucrose for lactose to get rid of the hygroscopic nature of the second comp? If so what effect did this have on the colour?

How about reacting potassium sorbate (very available) with copper sulphate to try and reduce the risk of those nasty little sodium ions sneaking in? And boric acid with copper carbonate?

[MDH]

Some interesting compositions there. Do you have any video of these?

Have you tried subbing out the sucrose for lactose to get rid of the hygroscopic nature of the second comp? If so what effect did this have on the colour?

How about reacting potassium sorbate (very available) with copper sulphate to try and reduce the risk of those nasty little sodium ions sneaking in? And boric acid with copper carbonate?

I haven`t, I considered shellac however. I am getting some from an artist`s shop within the week.

I washed these compounds with water several times and saw no imrovement. I don`t think sodium contamination is much of a problem.

However, I have 300 grams of potassium sorbate, and will make a comparison test.

At the moment I have no videos of these compositions but they`re quite nice blues. I don`t have a youtube account... My last was deleted.

Perhaps I could upload it to pyrobin instead, and when I do that, I will most certianly post a link here.

[drtoivowillmann]

Here's a strange one for you

This is apparently sourced from a fireworks technician working in Luiyang.

The formula for purple strobing star:

Copper Oxides (CuO) 12%,
Potassium Perchlorate 30%,
Strontium Carbonate 12%,
Magnalium 15%,
Shellac 4%,
Sulfur 5%,
Phenolic Aldehyde 6%,
PVC 3%,
Fe 13%. ( Iron? )

Dear Friend:

You missunderstood something. As a chemist (PhD) I tell you: it's simply Phenyl-Formaldehyde Resin, also called Phenyl-Novolaca, the prime matter to Bakelite-fabrication. In firework it is like a synthetic substitute of Red Gum.
In modern fireworks, iron powder can be an ecologic substitute of antimony and its compounds.

Greetings from Brazil:

Toivo

I'm really stuck on the Penolic Aldehyde. I'm sure it's some sort of resin, but I can't find any

I did a few ground tests, using Iron filings and no Phenolic Aldehyde. As expected, no strobe, but I would still like to see how it looks in the air. It looks promising

I tried binding with silicone.... completely useless. Does anyone know about Phenolic Aldehyde? Trade names, anything I could use as a replacement?

[cooperman435]

Ive had Resorcinol Resin for ages and love the stuff.

I use it in my comets mainly as it hardens very fast and doesnt require drying time just curing meaning I can fire 3" comets in under 2 hours from pressing them.

Have a look its here:

http://nexusgamers.c...products_id=140

Edited by cooperman435, 02 September 2009 - 07:43 PM.

[MDH]

Ive had Resorcinol Resin for ages and love the stuff.

I use it in my comets mainly as it hardens very fast and doesnt require drying time just curing meaning I can fire 3" comets in under 2 hours from pressing them.

Have a look its here:

http://nexusgamers.c...products_id=140

Hi Cooperman, an immediate family member recently tried to order some of these things from you. Apparently adding parlon and some other miscellaneous chemicals (Such as the increasingly elusive sodium benzoate) to the cart would not work, as they would not show up in the cart once ordered.

Otherwise, I may have posted this information before, but the integration of paraffin wax into metallic star compositions incorporating magnesium, nitrates and a chlorine donor seems to create some sort of sparkling effect akin to a colored glitter. Perhaps others would like to play around with this?

[cooperman435]

I wasnt aware of any cart problem MDH?

did they contact me about the issue?

[pyrotrev]

Oi Toivo - nice to hear from someone in Brasil - I like your country a lot! Phenolic resins come in many different forms, and are usually only available industrially. Like Cooperman said Resorcinol resin adhesives (often used in boatbuilding) are in my experience a good substitute, and have the advantage they cure at room temperature without very acid conditions. Typical brand names are Weldwood (by Dap) Extraphen (by Humbrol) and Cascophen.

[MDH]

Hi Cooperman, I talked to her and she did at some point contact you about check-out problems, but apparently it was some time back.

I today attempted to order Potassium Benzoate on your website (Though, logged out whilst doing so), and experienced a similar problem - While the page updates, the product does not appear in the cart.

[cooperman435]

thats because pot benz is currently out of stock MDH. Only things with stock showing can be added to the cart. Ill be checking what's in my store in the next day or two and updating that one. I assume you want some or was it just a test to see if the cart works?

[MDH]

Hmm, guess I should take a less superficial look at it this time - I jumped to the conclusion it was stock because it offered quantities, or thought it might have been a glitch.

Yes, we are interested in potassium benzoate and parlon. These two chemicals are now impossible to order from the united states, so you are my only other option.

Thanks for the replies.

[cooperman435]

well Im trying to locate a new source for it at the moment along side sodium benzoate which is perfectly usable assuming the formula with Vaseline is used.

Im sure I do have some still in stock though so will be relisting it very soon.

Parlon is in stock though.

[Vic]

Parlon bound stars

I tried some parlon and acetone bound stars.

The formulas are optimized for screen extrusion technique and they all have at least 15% parlon.
I am well impressed they are quick to make and are ready to use in a day.

I primed them with fence post primer, but just a screened BP would do I'm sure. They seemed to light just fine on there own (nice sharp edges)

I did some test burns Purple, Silver Streamer, and a well impressive green
Here they are