jrin0630 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I was going to make some white stars using the KNO3/Al/Dex 58/40/2 composition. My Al is flake (German 5413 Blackhead). My question is can I use this Al for white stars or do they require spherical atomized Al? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasel Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 You can probably use any grade of aluminum and get white, althought with flash grade aluminum your stars may burn faster than than would with spherical aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEskimo Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Seems a waste to use flash grade Al on white stars. There are some nice sulfur-based white stars out there. Also, I don't htink you need flash grade Al for white stars...I'd go for -325 mesh bright flake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seymour Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 With the Aluminium you have they will burn very cleanly. Atomised Aluminium may give a tail of silver sparks, but your stuff will certainly not. To keep the stars more easily ignitable (if you switch to atomised), and fiercely clean burning, a fraction of the fine flake is a good thing in my opinion, thougfh if you dare use such expensive stuff in stars, make sure you prime them. I hate seeing expensive stars blown blind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 You can indeed make some very very nice stars, although with KClO4 as the oxidizierYou should try the following formula 41g KNO349g Al, dark6g Dextrine4g sulfur Its a very nice composition.Although personally I recommend this formula: 40g KClO440g Dark Al10g Dextrin+5g Ti powder, granular For me it is the best silver star composition I have tested in my pyro career.Hope this helps Stinger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrin0630 Posted August 12, 2009 Author Share Posted August 12, 2009 You can indeed make some very very nice stars, although with KClO4 as the oxidizierYou should try the following formula 41g KNO349g Al, dark6g Dextrine4g sulfur Its a very nice composition.Although personally I recommend this formula: 40g KClO440g Dark Al10g Dextrin+5g Ti powder, granular For me it is the best silver star composition I have tested in my pyro career.Hope this helps Stinger Yes, that helps. I will try your nitrate based comp. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrin0630 Posted August 12, 2009 Author Share Posted August 12, 2009 Yes, that helps. I will try your nitrate based comp. Thanks. Would meal be a suitable prime for the nitrate based white stars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 meal with 5% metal powder could work but these high metal content stars can be quite hard to ignite something like velinis supper prime should do the trick Potassium Perchlorate 62 Charcoal Airfloat 22 Magnalium,granular, -200 mesh 7 Dextrin 4 Aluminum, dark -325 mesh 3 Copper(II) Oxide, black 2 or if your looking for something with out perchlorate hardt #3 would work also with the stars you should be adding boric acid to prevent spontaneous ignition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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