EphemeralPyroZ Posted August 27, 2012 Posted August 27, 2012 Hey guys, A couple of quick queries... 1) In most of the strobe compositions I have found to date, I have noticed that the primary oxidiser is usually NH4ClO4 - a chemical I do not possess or have access to here down under I do have KClO4 however, and I'm wondering what impact could be expected if I were to use Potassium Perchlorate instead of using Ammonium Perchlorate. Is such a substitution safe/viable? 2) I was taking apart a printer the other day (to make a new ball mill), and I noticed that this particular model still had the toner cartridge intact. Upon opening the toner cartridge, a fine black powder spilled out and instantly reminded me of lampblack. I'm just wondering if anybody has (or is aware of anyone who has) experimented with toner powder to see if it has any viable use in pyrotechnics? The surface area of this stuff appears to be huge (to the naked eye), and Wikipedia indicates that toner powder contains "a fine, dry mixture of plastic particles, carbon, and black or other coloring agents". Interested to hear your thoughts!! Cheers all and be safe, EP
Seymour Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Potassium perchlorate will not work. The strobe reaction relies on the Ammonium perchlorate smoldering at a low temperature with the Mg (or MgAl) until the heat buildup is sufficient for the Mg/MgAl and Sulfate reaction to occur, which comes as a qather quick flash, consuming all the pre heated smoldered zone, and then the remaining unreacted composition smolders again and so on. Potassium perchlorate does not smolder with MgAl, but burn rather vigorously. You would just get white or off white stars. I don't have any experience with toner powder, but I believe others have tried it with minimal success. Don't let that put you off trying if you are curious though.
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