Potassium nitrate: ACA or not?

[DonCopal]

Hello,

my favourite pyro supplier sells 2 types of potassium nitrate: With ACA (anti-caking agent) and without.

I always used the type with the ACA for my black powder, but now I accidently bought some of the nitrate without it (it's clumping together in big pieces).

So, when I ballmill the black powder, all the clumps should be broken down and it won't clump again as finished BP, right?

Or is it a problem?

 

Best regards

DonCopal

[Merlin]

If it is clumped it is likely because of moisture. I don't use AC in my BP. You will need to dry it or when you mill it it will likely clump up with the charcoal and sulfur into a solid mass in one end of the mill- a real mess. Dry over night in a drying box if you have one. In full sun if you have low humidity. I have dried it on a pizza pan (nitrate only) in oven at 200 F for a couple hours.

[DaMounty]

Has anyone ever used a crockpot for drying chems? If so does one dry them separately, or could they be dried all at once but NOT mixed?

 

...DaM

[OldMarine]

I use a 5 tray food dehydrator but I only dry one chem at a time. I really only have to dry my potassium and strontium nitrates but I've taken to drying my charcoal as well before milling BP.

[memo]

daM, you built a mill now you can build a dry box. it is worth the time and money. looks like you have the skills to do it

[memo]

I buy my potassium nitrate in 25 kilo sacks, it always has clumps to bfr's , just put thru a #4 screen and into the dry box. you good to go.

 

memo

[DaMounty]

Dry box is coming. Have to watch the spending, wife gets a little upset when I drop to much money at once.

 

DaM

[mabuse00]

 

If it is clumped it is likely because of moisture

No. Not necessarily. It's most likely not wetter than in the treadstarters other batches.

 

 

 

So, when I ballmill the black powder, all the clumps should be broken down and it won't clump again as finished BP, right?

Yes. The charcoal will act as anticake.

 

 

Or is it a problem?

No.

 

And If you want to granulate it afterwards, not having AC in the stuff might be an advantage.

[FlaMtnBkr]

Is the stuff without the anti-cake a fine powder or granular? Fine powders can clump rock hard without much water and doesn't always need drying.

[dynomike1]

I have used a crock pot to dry chems. I guess you could put them in a paper sack and do more 1 than at a time. Edited April 18, 2016 by dynomike1

[schroedinger]

Don no, you have no reason to worry about that. The kno3 from your supplier w/o is fine and needs no drying. But you should brake it up through a 4 to 6 mm sive, so it gets crushed up faster in your mill.