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- FLASH POWDER (By Dr. Tiel)
-
- Here are a few basic precautions to take if you're crazy enough to produce
- your own flash powder:
-
- (1) Grind the oxidizer (KNO3, KClO3, KMnO4, KClO4 etc) separately in a
- clean vessel.
-
- (2) NEVER grind or sift the mixed composition.
-
- (3) Mix the composition on a large paper sheet, by rolling the composition
- back and forth.
-
- (4) Do not store flash compositions, especially any containing Mg.
-
- (5) Make very small quantities at first, so you can appreciate the power
- of such mixtures.
-
- KNO3 50% (by weight)
- Mg 50%
-
- It is very important to have the KNO3 very dry, if evolution of ammonia is
- observed then the KNO3 has water in it. Very pure and dry KNO3 is needed.
-
- KClO3 with Mg or Al metal powders works very well. Many hands, faces and
- lives have been lost with such compositions.
-
- KMnO4 with Mg or Al is also an extremely powerful flash composition.
-
- KClO4 with Al is generally found in comercial fireworks, this does not
- mean that it is safe, it is a little safer than KClO3 above.
-
- K2Cr2O7 can also be used as an oxidizer for flash powder.
-
- The finer the oxidizer and the finer the metal powder the more powerful the
- explosive. This of course will also increase the sensetivity of the flash
- powder.
-
- For a quick flash small quantities can be burnt in the open.
- Larger quantities (50g or more) ignited in the open can detonate, they do not
- need a container to do so.
-
- NOTE: Flash powder in any container will detonate.
-
- Balanced equations of some oxidizer/metal reactions. Only major products
- are considered. Excess metal powders are generally used. This excess
- burns with atmospheric oxygen.
-
- 4 KNO3 + 10 Mg --> 2 K2O + 2 N2 + 10 MgO + energy
-
- KClO3 + 2 Al --> KCl + Al2O3 + energy
-
- 3 KClO4 + 8 Al --> 3 KCl + 4 Al2O3 + energy
-
- 6 KMnO4 + 14 Al --> 3 K2O + 7 Al2O3 + 6 Mn + energy
-
- Make Black Powder first if you have never worked with pyrotechnic
- materials, then think about this stuff.
-
- Dr. Van Tiel- Ph.D. Chemistry
-
-
- Potassium perchlorate is a lot safer than sodium/potassium chlorate.
-
-
-
- Compiled By:
-
- -= Exodus =-
-
- '94
-
- --
- JollyRoger CookBook IV, Brought to you by
- WiZKiD@Voicenet.com
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- MEGALiNKZ, Come and Crash!