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Items Needed to Get Started In Pyrotechnics:
Pyrotechnic Chemical Incompatibilities
Some combinations of chemicals lead to especially sensitive or instable mixtures. There are many more of such incompatible chemicals/mixtures than listed here but these are some of the more commonly encountered types:
Contains large comets, or charges in the shape of a solid cylinder, that travel outward, explode and then curve downward like the limbs of a palm tree | |||
Explodes in a spherical shape, usually of colored stars | |||
Explodes to produce a symmetrical ring of stars | |||
Contains stars (high charcoal composition makes them long-burning) that fall in the shape of willow branches and may even stay visible until they hit the ground | |||
Bursts into a circle of maroon shells that explode in sequence | |||
Bursts into a spherical pattern of stars that leave a visible trail, with an effect somewhat suggestive of the flower | |||
Like a chrysanthemum shell, but has a core that is a different color from the outer stars | |||
Makes a loud bang | |||
Bursts to send small tubes of incendiaries skittering outward in random paths, which may culminate in exploding stars |
General Solubility Information
The following is a listing of available materials that are (among other things) used as a binder in pyrotechnic type formulations. Those so marked with " * " preceding the item indicate that the material so used in solution, that is to say, it is dissolved in the appropriate solvent before mixing into the formulae. It should be noted that all of these materials may be used in solution but those so noted must be dissolved first because of their more difficult to solvise properties. Do not allow complete solvation before evaporation and drying the mixture resulting in adhesive bond failure. Some of these materials may take as long as 24 hours at room temperature to completely dissolve.
If maximum strength is required, binder solutions should be used instead of moistening the dry mixture containing the binder. A solution allows a more thorough, homogenous mixing with adequate wet-out and a cured strength many times greater than the same binder when used dry.
Those so indicated with "+" also have good moistureproofing properties (some better than others) because they are impervious to moisture themselves and seal the ingredients in the formula that are hygroscopic from the air and moisture they may otherwise absorb from it.
Resin and/or Binder | Dissolves in |
Asphaltum (solution advised but may be used in dry form | Toluene, turpentine & other hydrocarbon solvents |
*+ Calcium Resinate | Toluene, MEK |
*+ Cellulose Acetate | Acetone |
Cellulose Gum | Warm water |
Dextrine | Water |
Guar Gum | Water |
Gum Arabic (acacia gum) | Water |
Hydroxyehtyl (HEC) | Water |
*+ Linseed Oil | Hydrocarbon solvents |
*+ Nitrocellulose Lacquer (lacquer may be thinned) | Acetone |
*+ Paraffin Oil | None required |
*+ Parlon, chlorinated rubber | Acetone, Xylene |
Phenolic Resin, Bakelite (TM) (solution advised, but may be used in dry form) | Acetone, Ethanol |
*+ Polybutadiene (PBAN, R-45, etc) | plasticizer (curative required) |
*+ Polyester Resin | Plasticizer (curative required |
*+ Polystyrene | Toluene & other hydrocarbon solvents |
*+ Polysulfide Resin | Plasticizer (curatives, etc.) |
*+ Polyvinyl Alcohol | Boiling Water |
*+ Polyvinyl Chloride | Methylene chloride, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Cyclohexane |
Red Gum | Alcohol |
Rosin (sticky, much easier to use in solution) | Alcohol & hydrocarbon solvents |
*+ Rubber | Benzene, Benzine |
*+ Saran Resin (solution advised)(slowly in Acetone | Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Cyclohexanone |
Shellac | Alcohol |
Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) | Water |
*+ Sodium Silicate (solution may be thinned if necessary) | Water (heat resisting binder) |
Starch | Warm Water |
*+ Styrene Resin | Toluene, Methylene Chloride |
* Vinsol Resin (solution advised but may be used in dry form) | Alcohol, Ketones, Hydrocarbon solvents |
*+ Vinyl Resin | Toluene, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Acetone |
Compound |
% Chlorine by mass |
Ammonium chloride |
66 |
Chlorowax |
30-70 |
Dechlorane |
78 |
HCB |
75 |
HCE |
90 |
Lead chloride |
25 |
Lindane |
73 |
Mercurous chloride |
15 |
Parlon |
64-68 |
PVC |
57 |
PVDC (Saran) |
73 |
Rocket name |
ID |
OD |
Length |
Stick* |
Payload* |
2 oz |
3/8” |
3-3/4” |
|||
4 oz |
1/2” |
5” |
|||
8 oz |
5/8” |
1” |
6-1/4” |
30” |
120g |
1 lb |
3/4” |
1-1/4” |
7-1/2” |
36” |
180g |
2 lb |
7/8” |
8-3/4” |
|||
3 lb |
1” |
1-1/2” |
10” |
48” |
500g |
4 lb |
1-1/4” |
12-1/2” |
|||
6 lb |
1-1/2” |
15” |
Virgin Kraft Paper Sheets and Rolls | Super Strips | Secret Weapon Strips | |||||||
35# Blonde | 50# Blonde | 40# Brown | 55# Brown | 70# Brown | 70#, 1" | 70#, 2" | 60#, 1" | 60#, 2" | |
Pupadel Cans | |||||||||
Siatine Cans | |||||||||
3" - 4" Can, Inner | |||||||||
5" - 6" Can, Inner | |||||||||
7" - 8" Can, Inner | |||||||||
10" - 12" Can, Inner | |||||||||
Pupadel Pasting | |||||||||
Siatine Pasting | |||||||||
3" - 4" Can, Pasting | |||||||||
5" - 6" Can, Pasting | |||||||||
7" - 8" Can, Pasting | |||||||||
10" - 12" Can, Pasting | |||||||||
Small Crossettes | |||||||||
Large Crossettes | |||||||||
Match Piping, Nosing | |||||||||
Small Can, Outer Dry Wrap |
|||||||||
Large Can, Outer Dry Wrap |
|||||||||
3", 4", & 5" Ball | |||||||||
6", 7", & 8" Ball | |||||||||
10", & 12" Ball | |||||||||
16", & 24" Ball |
U.S. Mesh |
Inches |
Microns |
Millimeters |
4 |
.1870 |
4760 |
4.760 |
6 |
.1320 |
3360 |
3.360 |
8 |
.0937 |
2380 |
2.380 |
10 |
.0787 |
2000 |
2.000 |
12 |
.0661 |
1680 |
1.680 |
16 |
.0469 |
1190 |
1.190 |
20 |
.0331 |
841 |
.841 |
25 |
.0280 |
707 |
.707 |
30 |
.0232 |
595 |
.595 |
40 |
.0165 |
400 |
.400 |
50 |
.0117 |
297 |
.297 |
80 |
.0070 |
177 |
.177 |
100 |
.0059 |
149 |
.149 |
200 |
.0029 |
74 |
.074 |
325 |
.0017 |
44 |
.044 |
400 |
.0015 |
37 |
.037 |
(1200) |
.0005 |
12 |
.012 |
(2400) |
.0002 |
6 |
.006 |
(4800) |
.0001 |
2 |
.002 |
Sieve Mesh No. | Inches | Microns** | Typical material |
---|---|---|---|
14 | 0.056 | 1400 | |
28 | 0.028 | 700 | Beach sand |
60 | 0.0098 | 250 | Fine sand |
100 | 0.0059 | 150 | |
200 | 0.0030 | 74 | Portland cement |
325 | 0.0017 | 44 | Silt |
400 | 0.0015 | 37 | |
(1200) | 0.0005 | 12 | Plant Pollen |
(2400) | 0.0002 | 6 | Red Blood Cell |
(4800) | 0.0001 | 2 | Cigarette smoke |
* The mesh numbers in parentheses are too small to exist as actual screen sizes; they are estimated and included just for reference. *figures in parentheses are too small to be for actual screens, just estimated as such |
U.S. Sieve Mesh And Sieving Information | |||||
Opening (Microns) |
U.S. Sieve Mesh No. |
Opening (Microns) |
U.S. Sieve Mesh No |
Opening (Microns) |
U.S. Sieve Mesh No |
4039 |
5 |
250 |
60 |
88 |
170 |
1905 |
10 |
210 |
70 |
74 |
200 |
841 |
20 |
177 |
80 |
63 |
230 |
595 |
30 |
149 |
100 |
53 |
270 |
420 |
40 |
125 |
120 |
44 |
325 |
297 |
50 |
105 |
140 |
37 |
400 |
Theoretical: 20 micron = 635 mesh |
U.S.A. | Tyler | British | Sieve Opening | |
Standard Sieve | Standard | Micron | Inch | |
10 | 2000 | 0.0787 | ||
9 | 1981 | 0.0780 | ||
10 | 1676 | 0.0660 | ||
10 | 1651 | 0.0650 | ||
14 | 1410 | 0.0555 | ||
12 | 1405 | 0.0553 | ||
12 | 1397 | 0.0550 | ||
14 | 1204 | 0.4740 | ||
16 | 1190 | 0.0469 | ||
14 | 1168 | 0.0460 | ||
16 | 1003 | 0.0395 | ||
18 | 1000 | 0.0394 | ||
16 | 991 | 0.0390 | ||
18 | 853 | 0.0336 | ||
20 | 840 | 0.0331 | ||
20 | 833 | 0.3280 | ||
25 | 710 | 0.0280 | ||
24 | 701 | 0.0276 | ||
22 | 699 | 0.0275 | ||
25 | 599 | 0.0236 | ||
30 | 590 | 0.0232 | ||
28 | 589 | 0.0232 | ||
35 | 30 | 500 | 0.0197 | |
32 | 495 | 0.0195 | ||
36 | 422 | 0.0166 | ||
40 | 420 | 0.0165 | ||
35 | 417 | 0.0164 | ||
44 | 353 | 0.0139 | ||
42 | 351 | 0.0138 | ||
45 | 350 | 0.0138 | ||
50 | 297 | 0.0117 | ||
48 | 52 | 295 | 0.0116 | |
60 | 251 | 0.0099 | ||
60 | 250 | 0.0098 | ||
60 | 246 | 0.0097 | ||
72 | 211 | 0.0083 | ||
70 | 210 | 0.0083 | ||
65 | 208 | 0.0082 | ||
85 | 178 | 0.0070 | ||
80 | 177 | 0.0070 | ||
80 | 175 | 0.0069 | ||
100 | 152 | 0.0060 | ||
100 | 149 | 0.0059 | ||
100 | 147 | 0.0058 | ||
120 | 125 | 0.0049 | ||
115 | 120 | 124 | 0.0049 | |
140 | 105 | 0.0041 | ||
150 | 150 | 104 | 0.0041 | |
170 | 170 | 89 | 0.0035 | |
170 | 88 | 0.0035 | ||
200 | 76 | 0.0300 | ||
200 | 200 | 74 | 0.0029 | |
240 | 66 | 0.0026 | ||
230 | 62 | 0.0024 | ||
250 | 61 | 0.0024 | ||
270 | 270 | 300 | 53 | 0.0021 |
325 | 44 | 0.0017 | ||
325 | 43 | 0.0017 | ||
400 | 37 | 0.0014 |
Grades
Grades of purity listed have been generally adapted to indicate the degree of quality and their primary uses.
Primary Standard - Reagents of special exceptional purity, for preparing standard solutions.
Reagent Grade - An analytical grade unexcelled for all general laboratory use.
ACS - Meets the requirements of the American Chemical Society Committee on Analytical Reagents.
CP - Chemically Pure grade, generally exceeding U.S. P. or N.F. requirements but of lower quality than Reagent Grade.
NF - A grade meeting the requirements of the National Formulary.
USP - Meets the requirements of the United States Pharmacopoeia.
Practical - Organic compounds of medium purity suitable for many laboratory applications.
Purified - A grade of higher quality than technical, often used where there are no official standards.
Technical - A grade suitable for general industrial use.
Table of Units
Unit (Full Name) Value in SI Units atm (Atmosphere) 101325 kg/m*s2 (N/m2) bbl (Barrel) 0,158987294928 m3 c (Speed of light) 299792458 m/s ct (Carat) 0,0002 kg ft (International foot) 0,3048 m g (Gram) 0,001 kg gal (US gallon) 0,003785411784 m3 ha (Hectare) 10000 m2 hp (Horsepower) 745,699871582 kg*m2/s3 (W) in (Inch) 0,0254 m kip (Kilopound-force) 4448,22161526 kg*m/s2 (N) knot (Nautical miles per hour) 0,54444444444 m/s lb (Avoirdupois pound) 0,45359237 kg mi (International mile) 1609,344 m N (Newton) 1 kg*m/s2 oz (Ounce) 0,028349523125 kg Pa (Pascal) 1 kg/m*s2 (N/m2) psi (Pounds per square inch) 6894,75729317 kg/m*s2 (N/m2) ToBeContiniued What did I forgot?
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