34 replies to this topic

[tajmiester]

Hi,

Has anyone got any good bengal fire compositions. I really want some bright ones using potassium chlorate and strontium or barium carbonate. Heres a great white fire thats superb in an open tube (its acctually a slow buring flash comp)

Potassium Nitrate 50
Aluminium Powder 20
Sulphur Powder 30

(Just don't stare at this comp for two long; its so bright you'll end up with a blue spot in your vison!)

Thanks

Tris

[tomu]

I would suggest using potassium perchlorate instead of potassium chlorate. It's safer and it gives a more intense and brighter light.

Also some carbonous fuel in addition to the metal powder would be beneficial in the bengal mixture.

The other salts you are mentioning are for colouring the flame.

[tajmiester]

I am quite aware as to the use of strontium and barium salts and that perc would be preferable to potassium chlorate but you have to make do with what you've got! I have not found anywhere yet that will sell perchlorates to the average joe. I have added some charcoal to the above comp and it dulls it down quite nicely, not quite so blinding now.

Thanks

Tris

[lord_dranack]

I often use shellac + potassium chlorate based comps in bengal fires

[lord_dranack]

Got my barium nitrate today, so will try that as I have had little sucess with BaCO3

[Potassium chlorate]

I often use shellac + potassium chlorate based comps in bengal fires

How do you do when mixing shellac and chlorate? Boiling alcohol is what I've heard. I bought some barium chlorate and will get some shellac to mix it with for nice green bengals.

[MDH]

Magnesium, aluminum, barium nitrate and potassium perchlorate together, when pressed, creates extremely bright light. It is indeed bad for your eyes to look directly at such compositions and are best avoided for anything other than very brief visual purposes.

[Potassium chlorate]

I once bought a kit with 12 bengals in yellow, red and green that you could put together just by mixing metal fuel and oxidizers/colour donors and filling card board tubes, though I'd like to make a bengal from scratch and use barium chlorate.

Edited by Pyroswede, 16 January 2009 - 04:06 PM.

[spanner]

I realize you didn't ask for any formulas, but thought I'd put these out in case anyone might be interested.

Degn Green Fire
Reference: Text: Westech Fireworks Manual Author: Ralph Degn Chapter: L-104: Basic Ground Displays Page: 45
percent parts component
81.82% 9 Barium Chlorate
18.18% 2 Shellac

*AND*
According to Mike Swisher, 5-10% barium chlorate with Green Dot (a brand of smokeless gun powder) gives a good green.

There doesn't seem to be many comps that call for barium chlorate.

Edited by spanner, 05 February 2009 - 05:55 PM.

[Potassium chlorate]

I bought it because I like the idea that it's a colour donor and chlorine donor in one.

It's originally a Weingart formula, I knew it before, just wondered exactly how to mix it with the shellac.

Edited by Pyroswede, 16 January 2009 - 06:54 PM.

[kcnkickthecat]

It's originally a Weingart formula, I knew it before, just wondered exactly how to mix it with the shellac.

Knowing Ba(ClO₃)₂, carefully I'd imagine...!!!

[Potassium chlorate]

Due to the high density of barium, its salts are actually quite powerful as oxidizers.

Edited by Pyroswede, 24 January 2009 - 03:12 PM.

[Potassium chlorate]

I finally bought some shellac. I will probably try to make a Bengal fire tomorrow.

[Potassium chlorate]

So, the Bengal is set to dry. I put some small, still alcohol-moist lumps on fire and they burnt with an intense green colour.

Edited by Pyroswede, 05 February 2009 - 03:16 PM.

[Potassium chlorate]

I lit it before it was completely dry, but it burnt with a very nice green colour and yet not as blinding as the ones with metal fuel do.