Should I use a ball mill for thermite?

Quote: Originally posted by MrHomeScientist

Particle size is very important for thermite reactions - too large and it's difficult to get ignition or to sustain the reaction. I'm not sure a ball mill would work for metals though. Wouldn't it just deform the foil rather than pulverizing it? People have had some success with putting foil in a blender. Also I'm sure you're aware, but copper thermite can actually be nearly explosive. Be careful with that one.

Not exactly related to the question but... are you sure a dremel is suitable for a long operation like that, and somewhat heavy?
I once burned a dremel when cutting a thin sheet of metal, because of doing it for a long time

Quote: Originally posted by ficolas

Not exactly related to the question but... are you sure a dremel is suitable for a long operation like that, and somewhat heavy? I once burned a dremel when cutting a thin sheet of metal, because of doing it for a long time

Quote: Originally posted by zed

Make a better Ball Mill. It isn't hard. A small rock tumbler works well. Marbles probably wont cut it. Ball bearings pack a lot more ooomph, when they fall. And, a modern pop bottle is probably too flimsy. A length of plumbing pipe will work though. Sponenberg's plans are floating around out on the web. Might even be a thread here on this site, regarding ball mill construction. Copper Thermite? Stand back! Way back! Ah, just returned from the web. It is a new and generous world out there. Found a very helpful Youtube link. Took about 60 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ball+mill+homem... [Edited on 14-10-2016 by zed] [Edited on 14-10-2016 by zed]

1: Believe the people who told you that the ball mill needs to be properly built, and marbles likely are unsuitable for milling Aluminum. Milling Al is a long, slow job, calling for dense media (steel bearings highly suggested). Make your mill jar larger in DIAMETER, rather than longer, if you want quickest possible work.

2: Try shredding your Al can as a stack of several flattened cans, using an angle grinder and a heavy wire cup brush if you must use cans- But you are going to get there faster starting from finely cut up Aluminum foil.

3: You do not plan to mill a completed mixture? Your mill will probably let you know when the Al is ground fine enough, the exploding with large clouds of brownish smoke is a good indicator... Copper thermite made with flour fine Copper oxide and pyrotechnic grade Aluminum often goes off from the strike of a .22LR bullet. A mill/media capable of grinding Al is likely capable of setting this mixture off too.

Quote: Originally posted by Bert

1: Believe the people who told you that the ball mill needs to be properly built, and marbles likely are unsuitable for milling Aluminum. Milling Al is a long, slow job, calling for dense media (steel bearings highly suggested). Make your mill jar larger in DIAMETER, rather than longer, if you want quickest possible work. 2: Try shredding your Al can as a stack of several flattened cans, using an angle grinder and a heavy wire cup brush if you must use cans- But you are going to get there faster starting from finely cut up Aluminum foil. 3: You do not plan to mill a completed mixture? Your mill will probably let you know when the Al is ground fine enough, the exploding with large clouds of brownish smoke is a good indicator... Copper thermite made with flour fine Copper oxide and pyrotechnic grade Aluminum often goes off from the strike of a .22LR bullet. A mill/media capable of grinding Al is likely capable of setting this mixture off too.

Quote: Originally posted by Amos

Cooking basic copper carbonate in an oven produces copper(II) oxide, not copper(I). And I have very serious doubts as to the purity if it's golden-brown in color. You likely had a starting carbonate of poor quality or you need to heat it further and longer until it is nearly black. For this purpose I like stirring it around in a metal pan on a burner set to high.

I was making a cooking joke, cook until golden brown. Sometimes I forget I'm not funny, it's all water under the fridge.
Yeah I did make cupric oxide. Not copper I oxide like I originally wrote. Just incase others read this thread the color change was from the teal of basic copper carbonate, to grey, and eventually black. I tried my burners and the stove never reached the temperature I needed.