Hi all,
Are there any green/blue compositions out there based on K (or other) nitrate? Could this be done with, say, a copper salt (sulphate, oxide...), and a chlorinated hydrocarbon? Can you chlorinate wax etc with conc. hydrochloric?
Chlorate and perchlorate salts are difficult to come by here in Australia, just about the only way for me to get them is to make them myself.
Cheers,
Jesse
edit:
I just found this:
http://www.skylighte...works-stars.asp
Green
Potassium nitrate 15 Sulfur 2 Airfloat charcoal 1 Copper powder 4 Red gum 1 Dextrin 1
Which would be easy for me because i have some copper dust from other hobbies. Anyone tried this before?
edit again:
I just tried it, its more like a pale yellow rather than green. Adjusting the ratio and adding extra nitrate and sulphur like the BP 'white' stars gives a pale greenish white, but still no good. There is a local chem supplier that stocks barium salts (carbonate/nitrate0, but it seems very expensive: the carbonate was about $35 for 500g. I cant remember the price for the nitrate, but it seems it was to expensive to even bother to write down! Are barium salts usually this expensive? I dont think I can afford to be making green stars!
Hi Jesse
I'm fromover the Tasman in NZ, and spend a lot of time chatting to Australians, so while I know it seems hard to get stuff it is all avaliable. It is not exactly advertised, because they want to be careful about attracting the wrong attention, both from irresponsible people, and hysterical anti-experimentation types.
I buy Barium carbonate from a pottery supplier for NZ $2 a kilo, and while I know I got a very good deal, you are certainly looking in the wrong place. I convert the not very useful carbonate in to the very useful nitrate using nitric acid. You may or may not be able to get that from local agricultural supplies. I know many people in AU can get it, but in other areas the sellers will make your life hard.
As for your attempts with exotic, Potassium nitrate colours, some people have limited success but most of us consider it a bit of a dead end road. Other nitrates make fantastic colours, with Barium nitrate being one that comes to mind, though it's limited to green and greenish colours obviously.
As for getting supplies in Australia I suggest goilg to
http://www.truebluep...Forum/index.php which is an Australian based pyro furum and joining in the discussion. For obvious reason's don't rush in and ask for things, people are not going to want to loose ther suppliers by letting everyone know them, but if you let them get to know that you are serious and curious which you obviously are, you will find yourself being able to get perchlorates, fuse and much more!
Good luck
