Posted 10 February 2023 - 03:04 PM
I don't use a lot of AP because I prefer to use Potassium chlorate for some of the comps I use and don't have the space to use them in different spaces. I only use it for strobe fuel.
But I'll start the list with the top 3 I know of, in order of importance:
1. Explosion Hazard // Potassium Chlorate: Do NOT use around Potassium chlorate, or any other chlorate, generally to the point where it's not a great idea to even mix/use/handle it in the same shop as handling Potassium chlorate. The concern being double displacement between chlorates and AP to form the much more dangerous and unstable organic salt - Ammonium Chlorate (i.e. explosion hazard). This also includes cross use of tools, storage containers etc.
2. Displacement and Hygroscopicity - Potassium Nitrate: Avoid contact between AP and Potassium Nitrate, especially in the presence of moisture (like KCL03) to avoid formation of Ammonium Nitrate and absorption of water to render comps/stars/etc, useless. Some people report the ability to make something like a AP star, and prime with a non-water binder like nitrocellulose, then roll a KNO3 based comp over that and have it work if used pretty quickly (i.e. not stored).
3. Sensitivity: I've heard of sensitivity to impact in a couple instances, but I've not tried or observed this. I have observed the tendency of strobe comp to behave like flash though (as I think most of us have at least seen the video of 500g being set off).