holmes1880
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Ethanol as a sensitizing fuel
Patent 4,093,478 on AN activation mentions in one of the tests that ethyl alcohol produced partial detonation of the 1kg charge with #6 blasting cap,
but that it can have application in certain conditions. In that particular trial test, there was also NM in the mixture ~ 20%. I am planning on
testing it with #8 cap in the original combination with NM and then by itself as the main charge (so, 7-8% for OB).
I find it alluring because of its lower toxicity, albeit it is 95% denatured, but still beats methanol or, God forbid, xylene.
Has anyone tested the mixture or found any references on its performance or lack there of? We know it is hygroscopic, so the composition has to be
sealed immediately.
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textex
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Ethylene glycol works good at a AN sensitizer, allthough less powerful than diesel. And the difference is just one oxygen atom, so i guess ethanol
would be a pretty good sensitizer aswell. But i would have boosted it a bit in any case.
I detoned a almost OB AN-EG-AL with aprox 3% AL a few weeks ago, and with aprox 10grams of ETN as a booster i think the whole 1kg charge went pretty
much high order.
[Edited on 30-4-2011 by textex]
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holmes1880
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I want to circumvent the nasties- ethylene glycol being one of those. Ethanol is considered a clean fuel and while I can only get 90-95%, it is still
"healthier" than other fuels to work with. Clean Strip Green denatured comes at 90%, I'd assume. Not ideal, but still best out of what I can get my
little restless hands on.
[Edited on 30-4-2011 by holmes1880]
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textex
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I guess ethanol is the best one then yeah. I guess you could make your own 100% ethanol with some kind of dehydrating agent and then distill it, but i
guess 95% denatured should work aswell.
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SB15
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Proppylene glycol may work approximately as well as ethylene glycol, and it is essentially non-toxic.
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holmes1880
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Propylene glycol would fit the bill very well too. Unfortunately for me, finding it would be more challenging, since store employees are not
familiarized with the chemical composition of the products and the labels often omit key ingredients- which is absurd, IMO. My online search, didn't
produce any list of brands carried by local retailers. 
It's all right, I already got 95% ethanol for a very reasonable $6/quart. Although, if you are aware of any retail brands, let me know because I like
its properties.
[Edited on 30-4-2011 by holmes1880]
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gnitseretni
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Propylene glycol is kind of expensive! It would make more sense to use it to make PGDN.
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