HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: fernee@newton.physics.uq.oz.au 
Subject: Re: Making Aluminium powder
Organization: The University of Queensland
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 08:25:53 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.133341.89938@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>, che238n@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au writes:
|> In article <13150023@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM>, bame@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Paul Bame) writes:
|> > In rec.pyrotechnics, fernee@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Mark Fernee) writes:
|> > 
|> >> I have met a person who claims that an Aluminium clamp was
|> >> reduced to powder when left in an ultra-sonic bath for 
|> >> 24 hrs. 
|> > 
|> >> Has anyone else used this technique to make Al powder?
|> >> If so, how succesful is it?

|> 
|> Aluminium powder can be made by electrolysis.
|> 
|> Get a strip of thick aluminium foil and connect to the positive terminal of a
|> 12V power pack (aligator clip). Connect some clean copper foil to the negative
|> terminal in the same way. Place the two electrodes into a beaker of 2M nitric
|> acid such that they do not touch and the aligator clips are above the surface. 
|> Switch on. After a while the aluminium electrode should start to dissolve and
|> the copper electrode should start to discolour. When the aluminium electrode
|> has completely dissolved there should be a coating of aluminium powder on the
|> copper electrode. Scrape it off and dry in a dessicator or oven. Take care as
|> the solution will become quite hot. Also beware of the evolution of hydrogen
|> and oxygen gas, keep away from flames. There is no need to immediately remove
|> the copper electrode, just replace the aluminium electrode the keep going.
|> Beware of using the "hard" aluminium foil as some contain magnesium which will
|> contaminate the Al powder.
|> 
|> I have used this method to prepare copper, aluminium, zinc and lead powder.
|> 
|> David B.

This sounds good, but extremely fine powdered Al is easily and cheaply
obtained from a large art supply wholesaler/retailer, as can copper
powder. This powder is so fine that it even penetrates a toxic dust
mask. It is used for making metalic paints. However, I have not found
a supplier for zinc or magnesium powder.

What would you use lead powder for (he asks innocently)?

Mark.
From: mitchelr@tekig6.PEN.TEK.COM (Ryan James Mitchell)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Date: 28 Aug 92 18:45:13 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

In article <BtpC2M.AxJ@rice.edu> stevens@horta.rice.edu (Richard Stevens) writes:
>If one wnats do design a small black powder model rocket engine, similar
>to the Estes type design, what could one use to slow down the burn
>rate and make the fuel less dangerous? How does one get the powder
>into a solid form?
>
>Thanks

1)  I have an interest in this also.  Can someone please share specifics with
us?  Thank you.  

2)  Can someone share with me the feasibility of this combination:  equal
parts of zinc dust and sulfer, mixed with water to form a paste which you can
set and let dry.  Will this work as a solid rocket fuel?  (In other words will
this burn quick enough or even light on fire?) 

						- Ryan Mitchell
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Rockets and fuel questions
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 23:23:39 GMT

buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda) writes:
: 
: >Does anyboby have the designs for reasonably large black powder
: >rockets (ie 1 in tube diameter and above). All attempts we have
: >made so far have resulted in rather large black powder crackers.
: >Specifically, what materials are used for the venturie and how 
: >are they made? 
: 
: From off the top of my head:
: 
: KNO3		20 Parts  Faster
: S		 4  "       ^
: C (airfloat)	 2  "       |
: C (80-100 mesh)  2  "       |
: C (30-40 mesh)	 2  "       v
: C (10-20 mesh)   1  "     Slower
: 
: Do not wet mix this, but use it dry.
: Screen the KNO3 and S together a few times to break
: up the clumps.  Mix the C's together in a bucket.
: 
: If you find things blowing up, add some of the bottom
: 2 or 3 slower items.  If you do not have enough power,
: add the top 2-3 faster items.  Try to do them in proportion
: to the formula.

You can also slow down the reaction by adding a higher percentage
of charcoal to the mixture.

Bill
From: tip@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Tom Perigrin)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Keywords: death, dismemberment
Date: 30 Aug 92 22:36:05 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group


Dr. David Blackburn, Ph. D. Chemist writes

>You lunatic! Maybe it's just a typo, but if you can't spell sulfur you
>hadn't ought to be playing with it! Adding water to Zn + S can cause it to
>ignite in your face. Even un-confined that would not be very much fun.
>Does anyone moderate this board to keep people from killing themselves?

Dear Dr. Blackburn

While I agree with the chemical sentiments, may I beg to point out that
spelling is not particularly cogent to the arguement.   Of course, the ability
to use IUPAC nomenclature is important when writing for JACS, JOC, etc...,
but the mear misspelling of sulfur with an "e" is not sufficient indictment
to rate your heated response (on that point, at least).

Tom Perigrin
(nom' de plume for a Chemist, who got his PhD a good few years
ago,  but generally doesn't bother to use the implicit arguementum
ad valorum entailed by throwing that bit of trivia around.)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: farb@ecr.mu.OZ.AU (William_Cuming FARROW)
Subject: RE: ROCKETS AND FUEL QUES
Organization: Dept. Of Engineering Computer Resources, Uni. Of Melbourne
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 00:54:59 GMT


In Australia we have to buy KNO3 in 40kg bags, in prill form.
It is relativly pure and needs no futher refining, just crushing.
NH4NO3 on the other hand is also in prill form, but mixed with brick
dust and some type of oil to stop absorption of water from the air.
Again it is sold in 40kg bags for about A$1 per kg.
I would suggest you look at farm suppliers not home gardening shops,
as home garden fertilisers are usually a blended mix.

Billy Boy ---> farb@ecr.mu.oz.au
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda)
Subject: Re: Rocket Fuel question
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 20:21:47 GMT


In article <1992Aug28.145201.17898@crd.ge.com>, saltzman@crd.ge.com (Bob Saltzman) writes...

>Rumor has it that PGI is coming back east to Weedsport, NY again soon,
>maybe in '94.  Anyone able to confirm this?
> 
>Bob Saltzman
>Empire State Fireworks
>Duanesburg, NY

93 is ND
94 is PA

Earliest it could be is 95.

	- mark

buda@star.enet.dec.com
...!decwrl!star.enet.dec.com!buda
buda%star.enet.dec.com
From: agbrooks@teaching.cs.adelaide.edu.au (Zoz)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Date: 1 Sep 1992 01:02:27 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

In article <1992Aug31.155836.14166@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
|> : Well, I was phucking around the other night and it seems that sugar is
|> : a really good inhibitor (if you don't mind the smoke). Also, you can
|> : melt gunpowder *IN AN ELECTRIC HEATER, NOT OVER A BURNER* and pour it
|> : into your rocket casing.
|> 
|> Melt black powder? I doubt if it would do that before igniting. Are you
|> sure you are not thinking about KCLO3/sugar? That is often mixed and melted
                                    ^^^^
Don't you mean KNO3? I have never heard of this being done with potassium
chlorate.

|> for pouring into a casing. It also ignites accidentally from the heat, on
|> occasion. Use care and do it outdoors away from flammable objects.

With KNO3 accidental ignition certainly does happen, it is best to heat the
mixture very slowly until it is a thick sludge with the consistency of
cold honey.
--
     ______        _____________    ______________________          ______
    /\####/\      /            /   /                     /         /\####/\
   /  \##/  \    /_______     /   /    _     ______     /         /  \##/  \
  /____\/____\          /    /   /    / \    \    /    /         /____\/____\
  \####/\####/         /    /____\    \_/    /   /    /_______   \####/\####/
   \##/  \##/         /                     /   /            /    \##/  \##/
    \/____\/         /_____________________/   /____________/      \/____\/

                     agbrooks@teaching.cs.adelaide.edu.au

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: galloway@carina.unm.edu (Homie(galloway))
Subject: tbbom help
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 92 00:17:03 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque




can some send my a copy of tbbom13.txt

email me at galloway@vesta.unm.edu


thanks
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: samw@bucket.rain.com (Sam Warden)
Subject: Re: Making Aluminium powder
Organization: Rick's Home-Grown Un*x
Date: 31 Aug 92 04:10:13 GMT

It's been my experience that aluminum often reduces itself to 
very fine, unctuous powders in confined abrasive-wear situations.
The powder itself with its oxide coat is abrasive to the bulk
metal.  I once built a mill out of two steel `cookies' -- the
cutoff ends of large shafts -- and ground some aluminum sawchips 
in it.  Fine powder resulted.  This was an experimental makeshift,
but done `right', with sieving and recirculation, I believe it could
be a real process.

Surely someone here knows how _real_ pyro aluminum is made.  

-- 
 
samw@bucket.rain.com (Sam Warden) -- and not a mere Device.
From: buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Rockets and fuel questions
Date: 1 Sep 92 17:51:16 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1992Aug26.004521.24018@usenet.ins.cwru.edu>, cd353@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Norman Spiney) writes...
> 
>Does anyboby have the designs for reasonably large black powder
>rockets (ie 1 in tube diameter and above). All attempts we have
>made so far have resulted in rather large black powder crackers.
>Specifically, what materials are used for the venturie and how 
>are they made? 

From off the top of my head:

KNO3		20 Parts  Faster
S		 4  "       ^
C (airfloat)	 2  "       |
C (80-100 mesh)  2  "       |
C (30-40 mesh)	 2  "       v
C (10-20 mesh)   1  "     Slower

Do not wet mix this, but use it dry.
Screen the KNO3 and S together a few times to break
up the clumps.  Mix the C's together in a bucket.

If you find things blowing up, add some of the bottom
2 or 3 slower items.  If you do not have enough power,
add the top 2-3 faster items.  Try to do them in proportion
to the formula.

	- mark

buda@star.enet.dec.com
...!decwrl!star.enet.dec.com!buda
buda%star.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: mcduff@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Rodney Mcduff)
Subject: Re: ROCKETS AND FUEL QUESTION
Organization: Physics Dept. The University of Queensland
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 07:15:21 GMT

In article <15.79.uupcb@betabbs.newton.ma.us>, steve.woodward@betabbs.newton.ma.us (Steve Woodward)  writes:
|> -> Also, has anybody made cast composite fuel rockets with polyester
|> -> resins (ie fibreglass resin). We have some KClO4 but would prefer to
|> -> use NH4NO3 if it can be sensitised. If someone knows of an
|> 
|>         If you're asking for a way to get NH4NO3, I belive you can find
|> it in those instant cold packs (the ones where you break the water
|> bubble). Hope that helps...
|>              

Prilled ammonium nitrate can be bought in bulk for less than A$1 per kg for 40 kg bags.
As a fertilizer it is coated with some polymer to prevent excess absorbtion of moisture
from the air. As an explosive component (nitropril) it is very pure and easy to grind into powder.
It is not an explosive so it is legal and easy to buy. (40 kg bags)

-- 

  +-------------------------+------------------------------------------+
  |        _   ^   _        | Rodney McDuff                            |
  |       |\  /|\  /|       | Physics Department                       |
  |         \  |  /         | The University of Queensland             | 
  |          \ | /          | St. Lucia, Brisbane                      |
  |           \|/           | Queensland, Australia. 4072.             |
  |   <--------+-------->   |                                          |
  |           /|\           | TELEPHONE: +61 7 365 3424                |
  |          / | \          | INTERNET:mcduff@newton.physics.uq.oz.au  |  
  |         /  |  \         | FACSIMILE: +61 7 365 1242                |
  |       |/  \|/  \|       |                                          |
  |        -   v   -        |                                          |
  +-------------------------+------------------------------------------+
From: mvp@netcom.com (Mike Van Pelt)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Making Aluminium powder
Date: 1 Sep 92 05:12:45 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

In article <BtuA36.5tD@bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au> fernee@newton.physics.uq.oz.au  writes:
>What would you use lead powder for (he asks innocently)?

I'm not sure what he used it for, and his is probably not fine enough,
but when I was a kid I made some pyrophoric lead powder.  Mix a solution
of lead acetate (this was back when you could buy lead acetate in the
drug store) and tartaric acid.  Filter out, wash, and dry the lead
tartrate precipitate.  Gently heat the dry powder in a test tube; it
evolves CO2, leaving a nearly monatomic lead powder that will ignite
in a puff of white smoke when exposed to air.

The "smoke", of course, is lead oxide.  Lead acetate is easily absorbed
through the skin.  Lead is fiendishly toxic, and probably caused the
brain damage that induced me to do other silly things with chemicals,
etc., etc., etc.

Caveat detonator.
-- 
Mike Van Pelt          | What happens if a big asteroid hits Earth?
mvp@netcom.com         | Judging from realistic simulations involving a
                       | sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we
                       | can assume it will be pretty bad. -- Dave Barry
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Date: 1 Sep 92 18:08:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpcvaac.1992Sep1.180830.7467
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

agbrooks@teaching.cs.adelaide.edu.au (Zoz) writes:
: |> 
: |> Melt black powder? I doubt if it would do that before igniting. Are you
: |> sure you are not thinking about KCLO3/sugar? That is often mixed and melted
:                                     ^^^^
: Don't you mean KNO3? I have never heard of this being done with potassium
: chlorate.

No, I meant KClO3 and sugar. There are people who claim to have melted it
successfully. I certainly would not try it.

: |> for pouring into a casing. It also ignites accidentally from the heat, on
: |> occasion. Use care and do it outdoors away from flammable objects.
: 
: With KNO3 accidental ignition certainly does happen, it is best to heat the
: mixture very slowly until it is a thick sludge with the consistency of
: cold honey.

I agree. Personally, I stay away from pyrotechnic mixtures that require
heating. There are plenty of others that do not require taking such risks.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 21:54:13 GMT

mitchelr@tekig6.PEN.TEK.COM (Ryan James Mitchell) writes:
: 
: 1)  I have an interest in this also.  Can someone please share specifics with
: us?  Thank you.  
: 
: 2)  Can someone share with me the feasibility of this combination:  equal
: parts of zinc dust and sulfer, mixed with water to form a paste which you can
: set and let dry.  Will this work as a solid rocket fuel?  (In other words will
: this burn quick enough or even light on fire?) 

Zinc dust and sulfur were used quite a bit, in the past, as a rocket fuel. It
has a reputation of exploding and causing injuries. 

I do not recall the specific hazards, except I expect that the dry mixture
may tend to autoignite. The sulfur would lower the ignition temperature of
the zinc.

It is difficult to use water in rocket propellants. It takes a long time for
all the water to evaporate, whenever the material is very thick. In other
words, the outside dries - leaving the entrapped water. Also, it is easy to
get internal voids or cracks in the propellant grain as the water evaporates.

One of the experts on rockets should be able to give you more precise info.
I have not built any rocket engines in years, and have only used black powder.

Bill
From: buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: PGI discussion on toxicity
Date: 1 Sep 92 17:01:23 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1992Aug24.042807.6237@slammer.UUCP>, brad@slammer.UUCP (Brad Isley) writes...

>	1) Barium toxicity.  He failed to differentiate the toxicity
>		of the sulfate with the soluble salts.  This point was
>		brought up twice, but brushed over.

Barium is strange stuff.  Affects some people very quickly and causes wierd
results (the farts, heardaches, etc.)  Others it does not affect at all.
Of course, being around the stuff for an extended time can cause long
term problems, but that tends to be a gray area and not very well
understood.

>	2) Aluminum dust in the lungs.  This was brushed of as "no problem."

Very small amounts, I would tend to say have little affect.  Large amounts
will have an affect.  I would suggest that anyone using Al a lot use a mask
to protect themselves.  You have nothing to loose by wearing a ask and a lot
to loose if you do not!

	- mark

buda@star.enet.dec.com
...!decwrl!star.enet.dec.com!buda
buda%star.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: ab3@irz205.inf.tu-dresden.de. (Andre Beck,SG 88/08/06,,)
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Reply-To: ab3@irz205.inf.tu-dresden.de.
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 11:46:31 GMT

In article Kvw@bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au, fernee@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Mark Fernee) writes:
>In article <1992Aug31.155836.14166@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
>
>|> : Well, I was phucking around the other night and it seems that sugar is
>|> : a really good inhibitor (if you don't mind the smoke). Also, you can
>|> : melt gunpowder *IN AN ELECTRIC HEATER, NOT OVER A BURNER* and pour it
>|> : into your rocket casing.
>|> 
>|> Melt black powder? I doubt if it would do that before igniting. Are you
>|> sure you are not thinking about KCLO3/sugar? That is often mixed and melted
>|> for pouring into a casing. It also ignites accidentally from the heat, on
>|> occasion. Use care and do it outdoors away from flammable objects.
>|> 
>|> Bill
>|> 
>|> : 
>|> : Jeremiah
>
>KClO3 + sugar should burn faster than KNO3 + sugar, but I would hate to have
>it ignite at an inconvenient time, it could be very dangerous. I would be 
>very careful with any chlorate mixture, definitely try KNO3+sugar first,
>it is very much safer to melt. After all, from experience you generally
>want to slow down the burn rate.
>
>Mark.
>
>
>
Don't use KCLO3/Sugar for rocket loading. We tried this mix very often, but in 80%
of all cases it increased the burning speed until detonation.

ABP.




Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Rocket Fuel question
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 19:33:43 GMT

rubin@lagoon.cis.ohio-state.edu (Daniel Rubin) writes:
: >This was at the Pyrotechnics Guild International convention. It is an annual
: >event - held in august. The next on is scheduled for North Dakota - I believe
: >Fargo.
: >
: >Bill
: 
: North Dakota !! Darn it I though it was going to be held out east next year !
: 
: I have an article saved somewhere stating that the convention next year will
: be held in Pennsylvania somewhere, but I can't find it in my vast stockpile
: of saved mail and news...

It was going to be held on the east coast somewhere but, last I heard, it was
changed at the convention to North Dakota. Maybe someone who sat through the
business meeting could give more information.

Bill
From: buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Recipe for nitrate-based flashpowder!
Date: 3 Sep 92 14:36:33 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1992Aug31.190831.13599@ruc.dk>, pjac@ruc.dk (Peter Jacobsen) writes...

>The author of the rec.pyrotechnics FAQ claims that inhaled Al-dust destroy
>the lungs. I find it hard to believe since it was used for many years in
>inhaled form to relieve the breathing-pains on asthma-patients, and even
>today Al-dust is sprayed out in the air in mines in the U.S. and Canada
>because it bind dangerous silicate dust

Just because it is used, does not mean that it is safe.  I think there
needs to be a lot more research done (a lot has already been done), to
be able to say the above...

>But, on the other hand, Al is now
>suspected to cause preageing (Alzheimers disease) if too much of it goes
>into the blood, so don't eat it :-).

There are various articles about Alzheimers and Al.  It is currently believed
that Al does not cause Alzheimers, but that higher levels of Al are found in
Alzheimer patients.  The higher level is what caused the reseachers to look
at Al, as  a possible Alzheimers causing agent.


	- mark

buda@star.enet.dec.com
...!decwrl!star.enet.dec.com!buda
buda%star.enet.dec.com
From: Jeremiah.Blatz@dartmouth.edu (Jeremiah Blatz)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Date: 31 Aug 92 03:59:45 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

In article <BtpC2M.AxJ@rice.edu>
stevens@horta.rice.edu (Richard Stevens) writes:

> If one wnats do design a small black powder model rocket engine, similar
> to the Estes type design, what could one use to slow down the burn
> rate and make the fuel less dangerous? How does one get the powder
> into a solid form?

Well, I was phucking around the other night and it seems that sugar is
a really good inhibitor (if you don't mind the smoke). Also, you can
melt gunpowder *IN AN ELECTRIC HEATER, NOT OVER A BURNER* and pour it
into your rocket casing.

Jeremiah
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: rocket fuel question
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 01:00:44 GMT

fernee@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Mark Fernee) writes:
: In article <1992Aug31.155836.14166@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
: 
: |> : Well, I was phucking around the other night and it seems that sugar is
: |> : a really good inhibitor (if you don't mind the smoke). Also, you can
: |> : melt gunpowder *IN AN ELECTRIC HEATER, NOT OVER A BURNER* and pour it
: |> : into your rocket casing.
: |> 
: |> Melt black powder? I doubt if it would do that before igniting. Are you
: |> sure you are not thinking about KCLO3/sugar? That is often mixed and melted
: |> for pouring into a casing. It also ignites accidentally from the heat, on
: |> occasion. Use care and do it outdoors away from flammable objects.
: |> 
: |> Bill
: |> 
: |> : 
: |> : Jeremiah
: 
: KClO3 + sugar should burn faster than KNO3 + sugar, but I would hate to have
: it ignite at an inconvenient time, it could be very dangerous. I would be 
: very careful with any chlorate mixture, definitely try KNO3+sugar first,
: it is very much safer to melt. After all, from experience you generally
: want to slow down the burn rate.
: 
: Mark.

Yep. I meant KClO3. I don't think the nitrate/sugar mix will burn fast
enough. 

You are right about the chlorates - they should all be treated with great
caution. This is even more true if sulfur or a metal is present. KClO3
mixed with just about any fuel can be made to explode - sometimes violently.

I would stick with the black powder variations. Since you are looking for
propulsion instead of an explosion, the mix does not have to be as intimate.
I believe both Lancaster and Davis list several mixtures, as well as 
recommendations on blending.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics