Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Flash Powder Question

FeedMe94 - 11-4-2018 at 12:21

Hello , im trying to make my flash powder bang appear green. At the moment the best mix I've used is 7 KCLO4 / 3 Dark Aluminium powder. I need a powerful flash and relatively safe like this one.
Ba(NO3)2 seems like a good choice but im not sure. Any recommendations ?

joseph6355 - 11-4-2018 at 12:38

http://pyrodata.com/composition/flash-powder
Try this.

http://pyrodata.com/compositions/Green-flash
And check this out.

;)

FeedMe94 - 11-4-2018 at 15:48

Quote: Originally posted by joseph6355  
http://pyrodata.com/composition/flash-powder
Try this.

http://pyrodata.com/compositions/Green-flash
And check this out.

;)


Thank you so much for the reply. I saw that already but it probably wont make a loud bang like the 7/3 mixture

joseph6355 - 11-4-2018 at 16:04

Quote: Originally posted by feedme94  
Quote: Originally posted by joseph6355  
http://pyrodata.com/composition/flash-powder
Try this.

http://pyrodata.com/compositions/Green-flash
And check this out.

;)


Thank you so much for the reply. I saw that already but it probably wont make a loud bang like the 7/3 mixture

Probably not, it will be more like a loud pop.
You could try to mix the 7/3 KCLO4/DA with a bit of the green flash powder until you get the desired effect.
If you are into high explosives, a charge with HE in the middle surrounded by the green flash powder would do it.
Go for high velocity HE, like PETN, ETN or RDX. They make a high pitched bang.
Since you should use low amounts of HE, ETN or PETN should be used, because RDX is to insensitive to detonate without a stronger detonator (which would defeat the purpose of low HE quantities).
Maybe 5 g of ETN would do the job of dispersing the green flash powder and setting if off.
I might be wrong, but ETN alone could go off by means of an electrical current passing through it, thus, dismissing the use of metal detonators that could throw dangerous shrapnel everywhere.

Just an idea.
Don't trust the word of a single guy on the internet, I could be wrong.

[Edited on 12/4/18 by joseph6355]

NeonPulse - 11-4-2018 at 16:58

I think magnesium is preferable over Al and you may want to consider copper compounds as a many of them make green coloured flashes. Boron compounds are another option as well as barium nitrate. Barium chlorate/ perchlorate would be ideal over potassium perchlorate since the green is already within the oxidiser’s makeup. With a bit of experimentation you can easily find a mixture that works. Consider visiting the SM library for the book COPAE : http://library.sciencemadness.org/library/books/the_chemistr...
This contains a load of information on many colours and methods of making them- if you can get past the old timey language. The first part is a goldmine of information on the subject and is recommended reading for those starting in the hobby.

greenlight - 11-4-2018 at 20:48

I agree with NP, Mg will get much better colours in flash compositions. Al decomposes to solid Al2O3 which I have read ruins the colour whereas Mg decomposes to just gaseous products. I also think the whiteness of the magnesium flame is easier to colour.

I think the best green would be from barium chlorate as well.
Tweaking with some chlorine donating fuels/binders could get a nice green too. Maybe parlon, PVC or saran and hexamine like is mentioned in the link maybe as a coolant.
Any of these are going to slow the burn speed down though:(

Deluxbert - 16-4-2018 at 08:34

Quote: Originally posted by greenlight  

I think the best green would be from barium chlorate as well.
Tweaking with some chlorine donating fuels/binders could get a nice green too. Maybe parlon, PVC or saran and hexamine like is mentioned in the link maybe as a coolant.
Any of these are going to slow the burn speed down though:(


Just use slight excess of KClO3. From my experience no color boosting agent is needed for KClO3 due to decomposition products that form reactive chlorine. (ClO2)

For example Sugar KClO3 and CuSO4*5H2O makes for a bright green torch.

[Edited on 16-4-2018 by Deluxbert]