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More Powerful Sugar Rockets?


OblivionFall

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Hey there,

 

I'm going to start making R Candy again but I have a few questions.

 

1. What is the best ratio for the most power?

 

2. How can I make my R Candy rockets more powerful? I have Red Iron Oxide, Eckart 5143 (<2 microns), Cedar Charcoal, Sulfur etc.

 

3. Where can I find the best tutorial for making them and what can I cook them on so that they don't explode on me?

 

 

Thanks :)

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Hey there,

 

I'm going to start making R Candy again but I have a few questions.

 

1. What is the best ratio for the most power?

 

2. How can I make my R Candy rockets more powerful? I have Red Iron Oxide, Eckart 5143 (<2 microns), Cedar Charcoal, Sulfur etc.

 

3. Where can I find the best tutorial for making them and what can I cook them on so that they don't explode on me?

 

 

Thanks :)

 

That's Simple!.. To make your sugar rockets more powerful, you will need:

  • enthusiasm
  • research
  • testing
  • evaluation
  • modification
  • test again
  • problem solving
  • patience
  • perseverance
  • consistency

Also some reasonable tooling is required.

 

I've probably missed a few things, but If you don't have most of those qualities then you will struggle making sugar rockets no matter what information you have at your disposal. Every sugar rocket maker has to be able to come up with their own methods, not someone else's.

 

The standard mix for knsu is KNO3 65/35 Sugar. I've never had to use RIO because I make core burners. The image I've attached was "powerful" enough. Have a look at the specs and see how the relationships compare to your own (ie. nozzle throat to core length etc.)

post-19349-0-74589900-1435050267_thumb.jpg

Cheers.

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Experiment with various sugars. I'd start with sorbitol, since per wikipeda article it doesn't caramelize:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_candy#Fuels

And AFAIK caramelized sugar is like having already burned up rcandy in your fuel = extra weight, no power production or even somewhat inhibiting.

 

It might be beneficial to do some chemistry reading, to be able to determine best ratios and judge possible behaviour (e.g. energy output of each sugar and such).

 

P.S. http://www.jacobsrocketry.com/experimental_rocketry.htm has detailed and well written articles about rcandy (scroll down to caramel candy propellant).

Edited by deer
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What is CD3 in the skint-20 mixture ?

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What is CD3 in the skint-20 mixture ?

 

That's top secret :P

 

Nah, good question though. The "C" stands for carbon black and the "D" for dextrin powder.

I add 0.1% C, + 3% D to my mix. Why?, well that is the real question.

 

The answer is based partly on science and partly on "feel" in a physical and mental sense. I read some time back that carbon black acts as an opacifier - that is, it makes the fuel opaque and therefore less likely to transmit heat causing too much fuel to burn.

 

The carbon acts as a heat sink, keeping a portion of the heat of combustion located in the propellant rather than having it transferred quickly to the motor casing.

http://www.ajolleyplace.com/additive.html

 

 

I'm sure I've read it on Rickard Nakka's site http://www.nakka-rocketry.net/ somewhere too. Others report that it speeds up the burn rate - but that's not my experience.

 

My fuel making method is to make a "hot puttly" and roll snake like strands and press into a cardboard inhibitor sleeve around a forming tool (the core rod). The carbon black helps the mix retain heat and not "set-up" too quick. Black fuel also looks nice too :D.

 

The addition of Dextrin was more of a "experimental hunch". Although the dextrin is not activated with water because I use the melted method - I've found it makes my putty nice and sticky. It also slows the burn rate down slightly which is what I want.

 

I don't understand why there seems to be this "need" for some sugar rocket makers to want to add RIO. If you are making "core burners" it shouldn't be necessary. End burners on the other hand require a fast burning fuel where the addition of rio is beneficial. Black powder burns faster than any sugar fuel I've ever made and therefore "end burners" work well.

 

I guess it's a matter of personal preference, but I like my rockets to take off with enough power to ensure they have stability, then increase over time and have a long coasting phase > high altitude, parachute deploys taking video. Haven't done that yet, not because I don't have the motors but logistics and ummm... those annoying regulations.

 

Cheers.

Edited by stix
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  • 11 months later...

Even tho I'm new to this forum, I have to say from my minimal experience, (12mths ) red iron oxide is of assistance in LARGE r candy rockets, where there is a substantial amount of fuel to consume. If I can ever figure out how to upload some vids I think you'll notice the difference.

 

As I recently went over with stix, it is of no benefit in smaller nozzled core burners, only large nozzle less core burners. I have had 50% failure rate using RIO in E45 size motors.

 

My ratios now are 65/35 kno3 / Su for small motors, 65/35 kno3 / Su + 1% RIO for large ( & huge! ) motors. This is advice from those who know, keep it simple stupid!! ( I found out the tedious & time consuming way )

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Hi Redrocket - May I suggest that you start a knew thread, than adding to others. You will get more responses.

 

Just something simple like "Issues with my r-candy rockets" etc...

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No worries, but starting a new thread, is that the same as starting a new bolg??

 

Sorry to bother you, I just can't find a link to start a new thread.

 

Would love to share my experiences & any advice

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Sorry to bother you, I just can't find a link to start a new thread.

 

 

"Start new topic" above and below the list of topics in each forum section.

B!

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Thanks, got it.,!
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