pcm81 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I am currently researching thermite welding and i am setting it off using 425# Mg powder. I would like to switch to electronic matches, to increase the distance from me to the combustion chamber. I intend to use 32AWG nichrome wire tied to 18 AWG copper wire. Ni-chrome will be last 2-8 inches. I would like to attach some MG powder to the Ni-chrome tip to make a match that i can use to set Fe2O3+Al thermite off directly. My question is: What is the best binder material that i can use to create these Mg match heads? My background is in nuclear engineering, so don't be afraid of giving me "too much theoretical information"; the purpose of this whole endeavor is to learn something new. If i can pump 2 amps through 32AWG NiCr wire it should heat up to 600C which should set off Mg tip. At-least that is the theory... I'll probably use 2x 9V batteries in series Thanks ahead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyco_1322 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 (edited) I'd suggest using a thick nitrocellulose lacquer, should do the trick. Just make a thick slurry, dip the tips in. Repeat after some drying to build them up. Edited March 11, 2015 by psyco_1322 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schroedinger Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Use a step priming.If you really want to go with 32 awg try bp with nc/acetone followed by two dips of bp + 15 mg again nc/aceton. If this isn't sufficient further raise the mg content or put the match into a pile of mg (or mg + nitrate 2:1) on top of the thermite. If the match doesn't light you have tl give it an initial coating of more sensitiv composition, first try H3, if that still doesn't work use dark flash. Also you could raise the temperature of the match by using a thinner awg wire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrocoyote Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Dip nichrome wire into chlorate/sugar/ fine mag powder slurry, after dry dip into mag/sugar slurry and finally into just mag powder slurry. Very hot fire- n/c lac is the slurry I used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcm81 Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thanks all for the suggestions. I will give them a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Personally I like the 50g bridge wire available on chips from ODA Ents in the USA when I can't get proper igniters. 50g bridgewires ensure that the firing characteristics are as close to commercial igniters as possible. this means that 20ma should be good for continuity checking and 500ma for 20ms should be good enough to fire them perfectly. This means that you can use long wires to get you into a safer area. http://www.oda-ent.com/Electric%20Match%20Heads.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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