633 replies to this topic

[alany]

Depends on how desperate you are for colours. If you really can't get it commercially, making it is the only option.

See the thread called "Barium Carbonate --> Barium Nitrate, an accessible method".

[BigG]

Okay, Okay, here are formulas for colours using nitrates. No, you can?t use KNO3 only for colours; we talked about it in the past?. You need a chlorine donor and a high temp. Guys, this was discussed many times before, please don?t restart this conversation.

The formulas below are for red. I truly apologize for the person who published these formulas, they have been stored in my little black book, but I have no reference of where they are from. They are not mine.

The formulas are for red using Strontium Nitrate, chlorine donor and aluminium or Magnelium for high temp. Please note that not every aluminium will work. You will need very fine aluminium (at least 325 and maybe even smaller) to get a good red. With magnelium, even bigger particles will work.

R1
Sr(NO3)2 65
Dark Al 12
Parlon 18
Red Gum 5

R2
Sr(NO3)2 60
Dark Al 12
Parlon 20
Red Gum 3
Sulfur 5

R3
Sr(NO3)2 62
Dark Al 12
Parlon 18
Red Gum 8

R4
Sr(NO3)2 65
MgAl* 12
Parlon 14
Red Gum 3
Sulfur 6

R5
Sr(NO3)2 60
MgAl* 12
Parlon 25
Red Gum 3

Enjoy

[Creepin_pyro]

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? )

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?

[stan]

hi, the only site that i found selling Phenolic Aldehyde is http://www.chinanusa.com

hope it helps.

The Fe {iron} should be treathed or can be used raw? thanks.

Stan

[Pretty green flames]

Anyone ever thought about making
Zinc/Sulphur stars.

I tested Zn/S powder.
It's like flash powder only a bit slowerand it burns with a nice green colour.
Would it be possible to slow the burning down somehow.

Post your thoughts.

Take care
LP

[Creepin_pyro]

Brilliant Illuminating Silver Electronic Non-Sizzling Red Comet Shower Stars from AFN IV, by CJ-W.

Strontium Nitrate 40
Titanium 24-40 mesh 20 (I used 100mesh)
Magnalium 65/35 atomised 150mesh 15
PVC 15
Red Gum 5
Potassium Perchlorate 5

Solvent: Alcohol

As far as I'm concerned, these stars are very much sizzling. The rest of the title is accurate.

There is a long article about thes stars, bound with PVA, and using Magnesium. I've been having problems making stars with red gum as the solvent, so I will try the PVA/Mg version.

Using coarser Ti should give a different effect, but I quite like them as they are.

Brilliant red/Titanium mine

Wow..... it's 1/2 an hour into Nov 5th and I hear salutes

Have fun everyone....... and remember to stay GREEN

[pritch]

Wow That looks fantastic. I have to get the chemicals to make it!!

[BigG]

Me being a stuborn young lad, I am still trying to get any solid colour stars I can with potassium nitrate I have sort of got some where I think... Can anyone see anything blatently wrong with this comp as far as compatability issues are concerned?

70 Potassium Nitrate
15 Sulfur
15 Sodium Carbonate
5 Charcoal
3 Dextrin

To me it burns a yellow. If anyone has some spare time would they like to make up a 10g batch of powder and burn it on the ground to see if it looks like it would work in a star? I think it has potential *prays to God*

Also if anyone has some spare carbonates around would they like to try substituting the Na2CO3 with perhaps BaCO3 or SrCO3 to see if there is any colour change.

Should I try adding aluminium to get it hotter for a better colour? I was thinking taking out the charcoal and using Al. I will give it a go and report back.

Yellow can be made with nitrate - we don't really consider it a colour . Sodium nitrate produce the best yellow - but it's too hygroscopic. Most sodium salt will give you quite a good yellow.

[alany]

Sodium Bicarbonate is less hygroscopic than the Carbonate, so it may be an alternative if the stars turn to slush or something. A chlorine donor will help make it more yellow than orange.

[adamw]

I think a pastel lime can be very nice. I think you would use Sodium Aluminium Flouride (Cryolite) for this.

[alany]

A ceramics supplier will carry it, I get mine from Walker's.