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Kno3 And Explosion Inhibitor


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#1 ChrisL

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Posted 18 September 2003 - 05:19 PM

Hi All,

This is my first post, here, so please be gentle :)

I've heard through a source at work, that publicly available KNO3, the type available for garden use, contains an explosion inhibitor to prevent it being used for other purposes. Once received, this type of product should be processed to lessen the effect of the inhibitor.

Is this correct, and if so, does the inhibitor make any difference to the chemical being used in QuickMatch, as opposed to more volatile explosive type devices?

Any advice is much appreciated.

As this is my first post, could I just say what a great site this is with such a wealth of information available for those wanting to go that little further. Cheers guys!

Thanks,

Chris.

#2 RegimentalPyro

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Posted 18 September 2003 - 05:26 PM

I don't think that GardenDirect KNO3 has any explosion inhibitor additives, or any other KNO3 as far as I am aware.

I do know that Doff Sodium Chlorate [weedkiller] has a fire retardent added to it. It's easily separated using winnowing / sieving techniques. Perhaps this is what your work colleague was thinking of?

Hope this helps

Edited by RegimentalPyro, 18 September 2003 - 05:28 PM.


#3 adamw

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Posted 18 September 2003 - 06:34 PM

To the best of my knowledge, only Sodium chlorate (NaClO3), available to the public as a weedkiller (not for much longer I dont think) contains a fire retardant (sodium chloride [salt]). Please read the dangers of NaClO3 on this forum before you start messing with it. KNO3 (potassium nitrate) is a lot safer, and doesnt have any flame inhibitor.
75 : 15: 10... Enough said!

#4 RegimentalPyro

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Posted 18 September 2003 - 10:12 PM

...available to the public as a weedkiller (not for much longer I dont think) ...

Is "the nanny" onto this stuff too then?

#5 PanMaster

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Posted 19 September 2003 - 07:28 PM

I know that the GArden Direct KNO3 called Multi-K made by Haifia comes from Spain, thus it has no retardent, the details on their website http://www.haifachem.com, I am aware they do a purer version called Top Multi-K

Edited by PanMaster, 19 September 2003 - 07:30 PM.

Where are the matches?

#6 zanes

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Posted 19 September 2003 - 07:40 PM

Apparently gd kno3 occasionaly has little bits of orange plastic in it I heard- can anyone confirm this?

Also I would like to clear up one detail with this thread- explosion. Kno3 does not explode when ignited. Because it contains so much oxygen, it combusts, but instead of releasing CO2 or anything else, the O is liberated, this gives the other chems/fuels more O to burn in.

A chemical that does this is called an oxidizer. These type of chemicals are always used with a fuel (charcoal or sugar typically.) As such any retardant would be a flame or fire retardent, not an explosion retardant.

Sulphur acts as a catalyst, enabling fuels to burn faster.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

btw: I notice this is my 99th post- when I get to 100, do I get a free trip to Mc Donalds?
:Message Delivered By Zanes:

All your base are belong to us

:/Message delivered by Zanes:

#7 Gor

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Posted 19 September 2003 - 07:54 PM

I'd like to know EXACTLY what happens in BP. Even though you make a fine powder the particles are still huge on an atomic scale, and even if well rammed there must be huge air gaps between.

So what makes the oxygen liberated? Does the KNO3 just break down when it gets hot? and into what?

#8 Stuart

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Posted 20 September 2003 - 08:09 AM

When it says that the oxygen is liberated, it does just that. The heat decomposes the KNO3 to a potassium salt I think (not sure what it is though) and oxgen is released. This provides the extra oxygen required to get a fast burning mixture.

Stuart

#9 Gor

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Posted 20 September 2003 - 07:42 PM

Things get wierd when catalysts are involved. What does the sulphur do?

#10 adamw

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Posted 20 September 2003 - 07:53 PM

The sulphur isnt a catylist - it is merely another fuel. Sulphurless BP works quite happily without it - but you dont get that oh-so-wonderful smell!
75 : 15: 10... Enough said!

#11 PanMaster

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Posted 20 September 2003 - 08:28 PM

i believe it is adam, hydrogen sulphide to be exact, aids decomposition of kno3, thats why wet powder 1% is faster than very dry powder, some h2s is formed when water meets sulphur.
Where are the matches?




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