10 replies to this topic

[tamaldas]

A few days ago I have tried to make some flitter stars. The composition is given below: KNO3 : 40% CHARCOAL : 20% SULFUR : 10% MAGNESIUM : 15% (200 mesh) DEXTRIN : 5% Make pumped or cut stars of 2-3mm ,dry well in sunlight, and fill in to the shell. Adding 5% extra dextrin makes the stars long lasting. The stars come out with beautiful golden tail which is more beautiful than any charcoal fire dust of Shimizu or so. Adding extra 5% of 200-300 mesh dark pyro aluminium makes the stars more bright. The composition is solely of my brainchild.I would be happy if you like it. Try the composition & mail me if you would like it.

[al93535]

I don't know. Personally I would never make a magnesium fueled star and bind it with a water activated binder! Especially without coated mag! Parlon and solvent, and Nitrocellulose lacquer are two that would be fine. Just make sure the solvents are dry!

Even if you had success with the batch, please change it to a non-aqueous binding system. You could even leave the dex in for delay if you wanted....

Usually a small batch that is dried really fast won't show any dangers. If you scale up that batch, or the sun isnt out and you cant dry it fast enough, it could be very disastrous!
Anyways, be safe!

Edited by al93535, 28 April 2010 - 04:45 AM.

[seymour]

Even if you had success with the batch, please change it to a non-aqueous binding system. You could even leave the dex in for delay if you wanted....

Though eliminating the wetting step would all but eliminate the charcoal sparks...

Tamaldas, I'm sure your star is beautiful, but as Al has pointed out, the magnesium will not last long. This means that for smaller batches it will quickly loose performance, and for larger batches it could build up enough heat to auto-ignite while damp.

A better chemical for briliant sparks in nitrate compositions is Titanium, which is perfectly compatable with all the chemicals we use.

[Arthur Brown]

For hobby pyro you can use a formula that only has a short life if you fire the piece immediately. However if you have a professional stock of shells these may get used over five years so they must be known to be stable for longer than that.

[tamaldas]

Though eliminating the wetting step would all but eliminate the charcoal sparks...

Tamaldas, I'm sure your star is beautiful, but as Al has pointed out, the magnesium will not last long. This means that for smaller batches it will quickly loose performance, and for larger batches it could build up enough heat to auto-ignite while damp.

A better chemical for briliant sparks in nitrate compositions is Titanium, which is perfectly compatable with all the chemicals we use.

[tamaldas]

Though eliminating the wetting step would all but eliminate the charcoal sparks...

Tamaldas, I'm sure your star is beautiful, but as Al has pointed out, the magnesium will not last long. This means that for smaller batches it will quickly loose performance, and for larger batches it could build up enough heat to auto-ignite while damp.

A better chemical for briliant sparks in nitrate compositions is Titanium, which is perfectly compatable with all the chemicals we use.

seymore I haven't yet tried titanium. Next Ill get some titanium to see the effect. Thanks for replying tamaldas

[seymour]

seymore I haven't yet tried titanium. Next Ill get some titanium to see the effect. Thanks for replying tamaldas

No problem

I hope you find Ti that is not too expensive!

[pyrotechnist]

Ti is pretty expensive as far as I am concerned and tricky to get hold of now also, especially cheap. Why dont you also try flake aluminium or just a course grade aluminium like 60 - 100 mesh etc?

[rocketpro]

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Edited by rocketpro, 06 August 2010 - 10:11 AM.

[tamaldas]

Or just coat the Magnesium with 4% linseed oil.

would boiling the Mg wth 5% K2Cr2O7 soln for 1/2 an hr serve the purpose? tamaldas

[tamaldas]

Ti is pretty expensive as far as I am concerned and tricky to get hold of now also, especially cheap. Why dont you also try flake aluminium or just a course grade aluminium like 60 - 100 mesh etc?

I have tried AL fine flake but the flitter didnt come off, the whole thing burnt like a white flame. Flake Al worked well with another composition I have made NaNo3 : 37%
BaNo3 : 25% Al fineFlake :29% S : 3% dextrin : 6% Boric acid 2% soln tomake the star

Edited by tamaldas, 01 May 2010 - 01:18 PM.