From: rdicker@cyberden.uucp
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Flash Powder Problems
Keywords: flash powder
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 92 09:23:43 PDT
Organization: Indescribable Creations

schediwy@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com (Bic Schediwy) writes:

> In article <BvK1yI.Cx9@ddsw1.mcs.com> karl@ddsw1.mcs.com (Karl Denninger) wri
> >In article <tayloe.717964469@geode9> tayloe@rtsg.mot.com (Dan Tayloe) writes
> >>The other night, I was trying to make up a bit of flash powder 
> >>and was not having much sucess.
> ...
> deleted
> ...
> >I have a suspicion that someone else will post better procedure, but
> >basically you need to have a much better intermix of particles, which means
> >finer powders (the sulfer should be flowers of sulfer in a dust form, etc)
> >and good combination technique.   The perchlorate is a problem, as getting
> >it to a fine dust without having it "boom" on you can be a challenge.  A
> >ball mill can be used for this, but I wouldn't use it inside anything I
> >cared about (like a house, garage, etc).
> >
> >Flash is DAMN dangerous to make.  You risk having it go off >while< you're 
> >mixing it up!   Make only VERY small quantities.
> >
> >--
> >Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
> >Data Line: [+1 312 248-0900] Anon. arch. (nuucp) 00:00-06:00 C[SD]T
> >Request file: /u/public/sources/DIRECTORY/README for instructions
> >
> 
> Karl,
> 
> Your statement:
> 
> >                              The perchlorate is a problem, as getting
> >it to a fine dust without having it "boom" on you can be a challenge.  A
> >ball mill can be used for this, but I wouldn't use it inside anything I
> >cared about (like a house, garage, etc).
> 
> Can you substantiate you claim that reducing KClO4 to dust is hazardous?
> If what you say is true then it is the first I have heard of it. Do you
> have a reference to where you learned milling/grinding KClO4 can cause
> it to decompose? In the event that what you say is true then I believe
> that many people are currently at risk.
> 
> As a side note, "flowers of sulfer(sp)" should not be used, especially
> in combination with a _chlorate_. Sulfur flour is the correct type.
> This error has been pointed out by someone else on the net but it's
> worth repeating. Stay away from using sulfur in combination with
> perchlorates, and especially chlorates, if you can. You can get
> perfectly acceptable flash without the use of sulfur if you use
> very fine KClO4 and a good aluminum. I have heard that a slow flash
> mix can be improved with that addition of a small amount (~1%) of burn
> rate catalyst such as iron oxide or copper chromite. This is second
> hand information so take it as such (it does sound reasonable though).
> 
> cheers...bic

Potassium Chlorate is a _strong_ oxidizer.  When you grind it into 
a finer mesh it has more surface/reaction area.  If it has that, then it 
can react more easily.  An oxidizer as strong as KClO3 is not extremly 
picky about what it oxidizes.  There are things in the air that it will 
react with.  All it takes as a finer surface area and some grinding from 
say, a mortar and pestal?  If you wanna try something with KClO3.  Take 
SMALL amount (like the ammount that could be piled on a thumb) and mix it 
with an equal part of sulfur.  Mix it carefully.  They take a couple 
pinches of this mixture put it between two metal sheets and grind it with 
your foot.  The motian you want is to kinda press on it while dragging 
your foot back.  If you do this right you will hear a great boom.  I warn 
you to only do this in SMALL ammounts.  As you might be able to imagine a 
larger ammount could be detremental to ones health.  If you like loud 
noises, this might be your thing.  Be careful, have fuyo{.wt

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   | H E   \ Y B E R |/ E N            [ rdicker@cyberden.uucp ]