131 replies to this topic

[pyrotechnist]

Whatever it is I have created is a white powder, very tiny crystals. If there was a creatine borate I wonder how it would burn or the colour output. Ill test it out and let you all know anyhow. Other than for your muscles I have tried it out in a few different formulas as is without any sort of functionality, other than fizzy molten blobs that fly off at you!

[MDH]

Well, I have done some research, and after pouring through varieties of compounds, there are two in perticular I am interested in.

Tin (IV) chloride is formed by passing chlorine gas (quite easy to obtain from a variety of chlorine sources) over metallic tin in an enclosed atmosphere, in the absence of water (tough but certainly not impossible). As a clear liquid, it can be reacted with with common ammonium chloride to produces ammonium hexachlorostannate. In solutions, this can be reacted with other soluble alkali salts to produce various hexachlorostannates. However, I am sure that ammonium hexachlorostannate can be obtained from China in much larger quantities since it is apparently used within the dying industry.

Stannates or stannites themselves can be produced by reacting tin oxide with alkali hydroxides.

Another I was looking at was the sulfamate ion. This contains a fuel (nitrogen and hydrogen), a cooling/saturating agent (sulfate ion) and mediating agent (sulfur) and the color donor all within a single compound. Additionally, dichlorosulfamates can exist. They are produced by the reaction of the sulfamate and hypochlorite ions, both of which are easy to obtain, ammonium sulfamate being a common pesticide (Though sulfamates seem to be banned in some places).

[Potassium chlorate]

I don't know whether this is a really exotic chemical, but I have bought some hexachloroethane and will substitute it for hexachlorobenzene later in a composition that we discussed in another thread, the one called Chinese Blue #1.

[MDH]

I don't know whether this is a really exotic chemical, but I have bought some hexachloroethane and will substitute it for hexachlorobenzene later in a composition that we discussed in another thread, the one called Chinese Blue #1.

Another anecdote composition - An old post on rec.pyrotechnics states it was used in place of parlon.

Barium Nitrate... 50
Hexachloroethane... 25
Magnalium... 20
Dextrin... 5

Experiment with care as I am not sure how it performs.

[Potassium chlorate]

I've made hexazinc with it, which is what it is mostly used for nowadays. You simply mix the crystals with zinc dust, 1:1. Makes a very nice smoke composition.

It's volatile, so after the crystals are milled and the stars are made, I guess that one have to "seal" the stars with a NC laquer primer.

[MDH]

I've made hexazinc with it, which is what it is mostly used for nowadays. You simply mix the crystals with zinc dust, 1:1. Makes a very nice smoke composition.

It's volatile, so after the crystals are milled and the stars are made, I guess that one have to "seal" the stars with a NC laquer primer.

Have you tried KNO3/Citric Acid or NH4CLO4/Sulfamic Acid?

[Potassium chlorate]

Have you tried KNO3/Citric Acid or NH4CLO4/Sulfamic Acid?

Nope, but I can try the former. I don't have sulfamic acid, though.

[pyrotechnist]

Why what exactly does KNO3 and citric acid perform like or do?

[dr thrust]

its this

Edited by chris m, 23 May 2010 - 10:37 PM.

[MDH]

its this

It's actually this.

Edited by MDH, 23 May 2010 - 10:46 PM.

[pyrotechnist]

Interesting shame it wasn't any faster.

[MDH]

I have recently purchased trioxane from a nearby camping store and found it to be an excellent star fuel, much like hexamine. My first test was with strontium nitrate, and it worked well. I asked about it on recreational pyrotechnics and have so far gained no answers, so I am guessing I am the first one to use it. Appropriately, experiment with caution.

Here is the experimental strontium nitrate composition:

Strontium Nitrate, 7
Trioxane, 1
Sulfur, 1.5
Parlon, .5

Of course, it is an experimental composition, so it shouldn't be used in devices.

The trioxane purity may be an issue. My tablets are pure according to the label, but alternatives may contain hexamine as a temperature increasing agent. It still burns very hotly despite its apparently harmless blue flame, and you can feel it by putting your hand close by.

With all this being said I wouldn't tout it as a replacement for hexamine which has a much more opaque and fierce burning flame and is probably necessary to give reds/greens with AP a more expanded appearance.

[Potassium chlorate]

I substituted hexachloroethane for hexachlorobenzene in the Chinese Blue#1 and modified the formula a bit:

potassium perchlorate 38%
copper(II)oxide 37%
sulfur 14%
hexachloroethane 5%
red gum 6%

As a dry powder it burns almost white, but moistened with NC-laquer it has a nice blue colour. Made a few pumped stars with it and will update when they have dried thoroughly.

Edited by Pyroswede, 22 June 2010 - 12:27 PM.

[pyrotechnist]

Try hexamine instead of red gum as it burns a bit cooler.

[Potassium chlorate]

I will in time. I only made a 10 gram batch of Chinesse Blue#1. HCE is nasty to handle. The stars smell of it even though they're moistened with acetone now.