5 replies to this topic

[pyroboy1]

I was just wondering i haven't got a ball mill ( im hoping to get one soon) so would it be safe to put rocket fuel (potassium nitrate & sugar) in a mortar and pestle to grind?
thanks

[rr22]

I was just wondering i haven't got a ball mill ( im hoping to get one soon) so would it be safe to put rocket fuel (potassium nitrate & sugar) in a mortar and pestle to grind?
thanks

No grind them separately,ideally in different mortars, fuel and oxidiser should be kept separate until you have to combine them into the final product,diaper method or screening
with all due & precautions P.P.E
I cant give advice how how sensitive this stuff is,but it is certainly energetic enough when roused to ruin your day.

You may be better of making "rocket candy" more expert heads will advise you on that I'm sure,or do a search.

H.T.H.

Edited by rr22, 05 February 2010 - 02:27 AM.

[seymour]

No grind them separately,ideally in different mortars, fuel and oxidiser should be kept separate until you have to combine them into the final product,diaper method or screening
with all due & precautions P.P.E
I cant give advice how how sensitive this stuff is,but it is certainly energetic enough when roused to ruin your day.

You may be better of making "rocket candy" more expert heads will advise you on that I'm sure,or do a search.

H.T.H.

You are right that once ignited this mixture can be quite energetic, and while your desire to keep on the safe side of things is very healthy, this composition is actually quite insensitive, and grinding the chemicals together in a mortar and pestle can be an acceptable practice.

However note that some mortar and pestles are made from materials that can spark, while others are not and are safe. I personally would treat Potassium nitrate and sugar almost the same as I treat black powder, except with sugar mixes you also need to taker steps to avoid moisture being absorbed from the air which are not significant with BP.

[pyroboy1]

what would be the best way to grind them then?

[seymour]

I'm unsure what factors you consider important so that is hard to answer.

I believe that some hard-core sugar rocketeers dry, then ball mill the nitrate, sugar and catalyst together, to powder the nitrate and mix them intimately, so that even before they heat it to melt the sugar it is very very well mixed.

For safety the absolute ultimate would be, as RR22 said, to powder both components seperately.

[Arthur Brown]

Pyro safety is usually assisted by having the ingredients well prepared before you start mixing.