BobD1001
Hazard to Others
Posts: 182
Registered: 29-3-2013
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Mood: No Mood
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Silicon Micro-Fuse
I know this is somewhat pyrotechnic related, however it may be of use to anyone finding Goldschmidt reactions difficult to initiate. There used to be
a good deal of information on this composition available online, however it seems whatever forum it was has since gone offline and the information
with it. As I had it copied in my notebook:
"Micro-Fuse Composition
Potassium Permanganate - 5 Parts
Sulfur - 1 Part
Silicon Caulking - 1 Part
Mix 5 grams of powdered KMnO4, 1 gram of sulfur and 1 gram of silicon
gel ( the substance that is used to glue the glass-panes in aquariums
together ).
I suggest mixing the sulfur and KMnO4 first to insure a sufficiently
uniform mix.
Knead this mixture well, and then roll it out with a board so that you
end up with a cord of about 4 mm thickness.
Let it cure overnight and then cut it up into suitable lengths.
The final step is to wrap it in electricians tape (preferably
lengthwise; that is perpendicularly to the normal wrap-up vector); two
wrappings are sufficient with the type of tape that I use.
Now for the specs:
Burn rate: ca 30 sec per 3 cm
Flexibility: A 3 cm piece will bend more than 180 degrees with no
damage to the core, though some types of tape may not.
Water Resistance: Core does not soak at all and will survive any
amount of rain or submersion. With the described wrappings, fuse will
burn submerged.
A variation can be made by using 8.5 g KMnO4 and 2 g silicon gel. This
will give a less mechanically stable product, but will burn at a rate
of ca 40 sec per 3 cm and will produce less smoke. Water resistance is
similar.''
I made this composition years ago, and had great success using it to perform many various thermite reactions to isolate certain elements for my
element collection.
Today I tried to make the composition once more, and remembered that thinning it with a suitable solvent was an important part of the process, however
it seems that I never copied which solvent is safe to use in this composition. Does anyone have recommendations as to which solvent would be
appropriate in such a composition? I am concerned about certain solvents reacting with the permanganate causing spontaneous combustion. I
know that many solvents can thin silicone: Naphtha, mineral spirits etc. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
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Metacelsus
International Hazard
Posts: 2531
Registered: 26-12-2012
Location: Boston, MA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Double, double, toil and trouble
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Don't use anything that reacts with potassium permanganate (so no toluene, xylene, or alcohols).
Aliphatic hydrocarbons (mineral spirits) should be fine.
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