highpower48 - 13-5-2017 at 15:01
I have a firearm primer question. I know its not a true chemistry question but it seems interesting. There is a product on the market for making a
primer compound to reload spent primers. The product is call Prime All, it is four powders. From the videos I can tell that they seem to be charcoal,
sulfur, what I believe is potassium perchlorate, and a binder. They use a bit of acetone to mix the compound.
My question would the above work as a primer compound? Or am I mistaken about the potassium perchlorate as being one of the mystery powders. I don't
have any potassium perchlorate or I would just experiment. But thought someone here would know. Thanks
PHILOU Zrealone - 13-5-2017 at 16:06
I think it must be a simple ignition mix sensitive to friction...usually it must contain chlorate and not perchlorate...
Something like:
Antimony trisulfide (Sb2S3) - 325 Mesh
Ground glass
Sulfur
KClO3
But KClO3 and S are usually uncompatible for storage without an acid scavenger...I would add some 2-5% CaCO3, BaCO3, SrCO3, Li2CO3, or K2CO3.
PirateDocBrown - 13-5-2017 at 20:36
Primers have evolved over time.
Initally, mercury fulminate was the principal compound used.
But by the early 20th century, most were based on KClO3. While this is far less toxic than a mercury compound, its residues are corrosive to gunmetal
steels, in moist air.
By WWII, most manufacturers were moving to a lead styphnate base.
As for the source of friction, there's usually a metal anvil built into a primer these days, that rubs the compound upon a firing pin's impact. In
American "Boxer" primers, this anvil is part of the primer assembly, and fits over a simple touchhole in the cartridge case. In European "Berdan"
primers, the anvil is a simple tube over the touchhole, and the primer is just a cup whose inside is coated with compound.
Interestingly, Berdan was an American designer, while Boxer was a European.