Mustapyro Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) What is the coarsest Magnalium I can use for strobe fuel? I have some -10+50 but I'm concerned about it sparking when it crushes against itself. Edited January 12 by Mustapyro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zumber Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 It seems -10+50 is too coarse for strobe. 100 mesh 150 mesh 200 mesh or combination of single ,two or three different mesh would be a choice depending on burn rate and frequency. Mesh size is responsible for burn rate and frequency. Too coarse and too fine distroys effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenlight Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 I have 325 mesh magnalium powder which is obviously too fine for strobe fuel so I purchased some 200 mesh magnalium. It is flake magnalium though. Will this still be okay to use even with the increased surface area provided by the flake form? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zumber Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Test a smaller batch like 100 grams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenlight Posted July 20 Share Posted July 20 I have made a small 100 gram batch and the 200 mesh flake I ordered looks pretty fine. The finished product does not look too promising with no noticeable intermittent strobing when burned in a pile. I will make a small scale test pressed into a tube before manufacturing an entire rocket motor. I also have some magnalium chunks that were homemade in a furnace. Would I be able to crush these with a hammer and grind further with a glass mortar and pestle to achieve a mixture between 80 and 200 mesh if this fuel doesn't give the desired effect? Maybe keep whatever passes through an 80 mesh screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zumber Posted July 20 Share Posted July 20 Post your formula. If 200 mesh is not giving satisfactory result then change mesh size. 150 mesh or 100 mesh or combination of 100 and 200 mesh together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenlight Posted July 20 Share Posted July 20 I am using: Ammonium perchlorate 60 Barium sulfate 15 Magnalium (200 mesh flake) 17 Magnalium (325 mesh) 8 Potassium drichromate 5 Petroleum jelly 3 Lacquer thinner as solvent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenlight Posted Sunday at 03:06 PM Share Posted Sunday at 03:06 PM Just did a test burn of a pressed sample of the above composition and no strobing at all just a very bright flare effect tinged slightly green from the barium sulfate. So the magnalium is definitely too fine and the 200 mesh flake does not produce strobe. I have chunks of homemade magnalium, can I reduce these in size with a hammer and then mill carefully in short intervals in a coffee grinder to get a mixture of lower mesh magnalium for the next test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts