28 replies to this topic

[portfire]

The method of manufacture is alluded to in several texts, however ALL of them infer that the process is too dangerous to detail, even when they have detailed other primary explosives.

Count your fingers and keep it that way! Please don't mess with these. When properly made and packed they are a retail commodity, badly made and they will kill or just blow bits of you off.

Indeed!!!!

I knew the "procedure" when I was 12-ish, the problem THANK GOD was obtaining the chemicals. Otherwise I would have most definitely been typing this with a stick in my mouth or not at all. I've since grown up and advise anyone to stay clear of such things....Go make a nice fountain instead

[GZ22]

Many of you will have the seen the documentary entitled 'Kaboom!' that was screened in the late 90's as part of Channel Four's 'Equinox' series. There was a demonstration where a small sample of triiodide crystals were lightly touched with a feather that was attached to a long wooden pole, and the sample instantaneously reacted with a violent crack. Not a material that I would ever like to work with again. The one and only time I have ever even been in a 'manufacturing' environment was back when I was at school where my chemistry teacher decided to school us on the properties of this material.

[johnstreet]

I have recently retired as a chemistry lecturer, and nitrogen triiodide was one of our 'open day' demonstrations. If anybody is interested I can give info. PS It's best to make it, paint it out and not move it. Detonation with a feather is a crowd pleaser. This is not for the inexperienced!

[cooperman435]

Best not John we avoid death mixes wherever posible on the forum please

[Arthur Brown]

According to Davis the active mix is not NI3 but a more powerful primary explosive. Which as a member of the High explosive family is off limits on this forum.

Please don't risk false assumptions when guessing what powder is used. Bad guesses could cost you dearly.

[phildunford]

Historically, these things either used a fulminate or a 'cap mix' (same as toy gun caps) mixed with gravel. Both pretty lethal to make, but not exactly a state secret. All the references state that their manufacture is a dangerous process. Can't help thinking that the things you can buy these days may use something a bit more exotic, modern and safer to make, but don't know that for a fact.

[Mumbles]

Currently they use silver fulminate. You can't really make primary explosives safe.

[defective]

I have recently retired as a chemistry lecturer, and nitrogen triiodide was one of our 'open day' demonstrations. If anybody is interested I can give info. PS It's best to make it, paint it out and not move it. Detonation with a feather is a crowd pleaser. This is not for the inexperienced!

that stuff is insanely sensitive, and yet so simple to make.

[defective]

According to Davis the active mix is not NI3 but a more powerful primary explosive. Which as a member of the High explosive family is off limits on this forum.

Please don't risk false assumptions when guessing what powder is used. Bad guesses could cost you dearly.

i agree,and as for the NI3 in funsnaps, personally i would have thought it would be difficult to keep the snaps from exploding. as they would probably explode without even having to throw them, opening a box or even picking a box of them up would do the trick also.

and as for the colour, NI3 is a distinctive purple/browny colour isnt it?

dont remember the rocks being purple/brown in anyway.

[Bowerz]

i agree,and as for the NI3 in funsnaps, personally i would have thought it would be difficult to keep the snaps from exploding. as they would probably explode without even having to throw them, opening a box or even picking a box of them up would do the trick also.

They used these in mythbusters for the exploding bullet on impact myth. They opened up about 300 of them onto a sheet of paper, poured them into a pot off of the paper and KABOOM!!

Also, on Brainiac, they had an exploding paste setion where when it's wet it's safe, but when it dries, a fly could set it off. I know Brainiac are more of an entertainment programme instead of a documentary (kind of like top gear on cars) and a lot of their stuff is faked. But would this be possible? Could make for some seriously funny practical jokes!

[defective]

They used these in mythbusters for the exploding bullet on impact myth. They opened up about 300 of them onto a sheet of paper, poured them into a pot off of the paper and KABOOM!!

Also, on Brainiac, they had an exploding paste setion where when it's wet it's safe, but when it dries, a fly could set it off. I know Brainiac are more of an entertainment programme instead of a documentary (kind of like top gear on cars) and a lot of their stuff is faked. But would this be possible? Could make for some seriously funny practical jokes!

i wouldnt call setting off any fulmiates or triiodide at,on,in,near or under an unwary person a prctical joke,(if thats what they used).

[MDH]

Perhaps we could discuss a friction sensitive chlorate mixture stabilized with a strong base. It could be pulled off with the appropriate precautions.

[cooperman435]

the paste used on braniac is indeed iodine tri-iodide. The main giveaway is the staining and cloud after its used

[Arthur Brown]

Mixtures of such great sensitivity, both chemical and emotional, are best researched thoroughly from literature and not by trial and dangerous error. Nitrogen tri-iodide is so unstable that it is untransportable, so it has NO use other than insitu special effects.