16 replies to this topic

[whoof]

Has anyone here made stars or comets using NC ?
What is the advantage ?

[Potassium chlorate]

Better ignition and deeper colours, in my opinion.

Though be careful that there is no water in the NC, especially when you make metal stars, otherwise the water might spoil the whole thing.

[whoof]

Hi

Just curious , i had no idea that NC was used in pyro at all.

Just watched the secret life of fireworks and though i have a few grammes of that (the magic shop stuff).

Does anyone in the UK use it ?

[phildunford]

NC is used in some fireworks - Like Kimboltons Jumping Jelly Beans and also in Ice fountains...

[Potassium chlorate]

I have used NC-laquer as a solvent/binder/fuel instead of pure aceton in some parlon bound stars like these Electric Magenta:

[Adrenaline]

Wow those stars where realy nice. Would you mind telling me the comp? What was the concentration of your NC-laquer?

[Creepin_pyro]

NC is used in some fireworks - Like Kimboltons Jumping Jelly Beans and also in Ice fountains...

I always wondered what kind of formula these microstars actually use, it's not simply a standard star system using NC as a binder right?

Are we talking about an NC-based system or using NC as a binder here?

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 06 December 2010 - 05:51 PM.

[whoof]

I always wondered what kind of formula these microstars actually use, it's not simply a standard star system using NC as a binder right?

Are we talking about an NC-based system or using NC as a binder here?

Yes NC 'linters' as a propellant not a binder.
Not sure if the magic shop stuff is strong enough though.
It does seem to be stronger than the lacquer grade.

Edited by snert, 06 December 2010 - 06:11 PM.

[Potassium chlorate]

Wow those stars where realy nice. Would you mind telling me the comp? What was the concentration of your NC-laquer?

Strontium nitrate 38
Copper carbonate 12
Potassium perchlorate 8
Parlon 18
Magnalium <74µm 12
Sulfur 5
Charcoal airfloat 5
Dextrin 4

You might leave the dextrin out, of course, but it's also fuel if you keep it.

I don't really know the concentration, because I made it from nitrated cotton and aceton on free-hand, but it was pretty thick, maybe 10% or more.

[Mumbles]

One of the problems with NC is that it doesn't have a great deal of strength compared to things like dextrin or other more conventional binders. It works fine for relatively small stars, primes, etc. It generally doesn't have the strength to hold together larger stars and comets however from experiences I've read.

Potassium Chlorate, did you transcribe that formula incorrectly or is that what was really used? The original, developed by Jim Freeman, has 10 parts of copper carbonate instead of 12.

[BrightStar]

If I remember correctly, United Nuclear Electric Magenta is a dextrin bound version of the original Farrell Magenta that was parlon bound. Strictly speaking the NC bound version is neither of the two but the formulae are very similar.

It's a very nice colour but the dextrin version is a nuisance to dry in the British climate...

Edited by BrightStar, 07 December 2010 - 05:59 PM.

[Potassium chlorate]

One of the problems with NC is that it doesn't have a great deal of strength compared to things like dextrin or other more conventional binders. It works fine for relatively small stars, primes, etc. It generally doesn't have the strength to hold together larger stars and comets however from experiences I've read.

That's why I don't use it as a binder on its own but as a binder in the form of NC-laquer+parlon. If you avoid the forming of hydrogen gas (from Mg and water in the NC), you get very hard and waterproof stars.

Potassium Chlorate, did you transcribe that formula incorrectly or is that what was really used? The original, developed by Jim Freeman, has 10 parts of copper carbonate instead of 12.

That is what was really used. But I have seen Magenta stars being more reddish than mine were.

[pyrotechnist]

Why waste an expensive chemical when you can just use parlon and acetone that works fine? I just dont see the logic in using something that is more expensive unless you can buy or make it very cheaply in large quantities.

[whoof]

That is pretty much what i was asking.
What is the advantage of them (Zambelli) using it.

[Potassium chlorate]

That is pretty much what i was asking.
What is the advantage of them (Zambelli) using it.

Like I said: better ignition and, in my opinion at least, a little bit deeper colours.