LL8 from Dr. Liptakov

Thanks. Basic detonator must penetrate 2 mm construction steel at 300mg ETN and 3 mm plate at 500mg ETN. Thats enough good for next
steps as is booster or using of else secondary EM. Nothing big science....

You mean for preparation anhydrous Lithex. Was used classic glass thermometer and his Hg end wrapped in aluminium foil half ball loaded with a suitable piece of lead on hot stainless surface....
(If the lead starts to melt while drying the Lithex, you quickly run away form lab)

Haha sure.
I'll see what happens, I just got some old steelpots from a fleamarket.

Thank you for the whole tread, since theres no thank-button


I think this tread should be chopped into Lithex and Brightelite ect, it's a bitch to read.



One more thought:
A finished cap containing Lithex will draw water and become dead over time.
Has anyone an idea how hygroscopic this stuff really is?

I mean, imagine the caps will be stored together with CaCl2. Can this be ultimatey contra productive, in the sense that the CaCl2 is dried by the Lithex/Li-Perchlorate?


[Edited on 24-6-2024 by dangerous amateur]

Exact values hygroscopicity of Lithex are unknown. But attempts show similar behavior a like NH4NO3. Complette detonator can be storage in closure jar with CaCl2. For example one week. This method of stability was not tested...
(By views / since , this thread is one of the most viewed ever)

KC primer

Since primary initiator substances based on KClO3 have been considered unreliable or even impossible until now, I would like to introduce a new initiator substance based on KClO3. The basis of reliability (as always) is a solid 6/8 x 50 mm steel cavity. A substance with the working designation "KC primer" was discovered by accident during research into primary compounds for the ignition of shotgun cartridges.
Because within the hammer tests on the anvil, this mixture produced deafening blows (and also damaged cartriges) the mixture was storage for 3 months as sample (at wet air in open jar) for next examination. After 3 months mixture showed zero hygroscopicity and zero changes of properties. After this was Attempts were made in the sense of a primary charge for detonators. 3 months was leave for due to the notorious instability of the mixture of sulfur and potassium chlorate.
The basic mixture consists of: KClO3 70, hexamine 15, Sulfur 15.

The preparation is on pic 1 and pic 2. On stainless pan is at 3 compounds add distill water 75% + 25% ethanol commerce grade.
Temperature is increase on 100 C and mixture is grinded on surface to dry fine powder. All process take about 10 minute. Sensitivity on friction at this hard conditions was ont observed. Hammer test show similar sensitivity as safety matches, but the explosion sound is as from HMTD (ringing in ears). Thats was main reason for storage and next examination.






Burning test is on pic 3, 4, 5. Behavior is similar as classic BP, thus relatively slow burning with white - blue color. Damage alu foil is minimal (5) , against for example flash powders. Also wrapping in alu foil create only puff effect.







In Figure 6, we see the basic series of tests on the brizance 1,2,3,4. To add, I state that the basic charge of 300 mg of ETN as an output segment causes a 14-15 mm diameter cut in the lead. And with a depth of 4 - 5 mm. The same damage was measured on crater 1, 2 and 4. So full ETN detonation, 14 mm diameter, 4.5 mm depth. Small crater No. 3 (8 x 2 mm) is the highlight of the KC primer itself.





On pic 7 and 8 and 9 you can see the preparation for test no. 4. Filling is 300 mg ETN pressed on 10 Kg, DDT segment is 150 mg KC primer + 150 mg ETN. Follow 400 mg of starting segment from pure KC primer, with central bridge wire. As the plug was used 100 mg classic BP grain 1x1 mm.







On pic 10 and 11 you can see verification test No. 5, perpedicular into standard steel plate 2mm of thickness, where causes the hole 8,2 x 9, 2 mm.
On pic 12 is see deploy tube 6/8 mm into hole from test.




Conclusion: For experiments No. 4 and 5, a change in the ratio of ingredients was used: KClO3 75, hexamine 15, and sulfur 10 parts by weight. That is, the same ratios as are used for classic gunpowder. For both mixtures, doping with nitrocellulose and powdered aluminum comes into consideration to create a grain that always increases the reliability of the energy filling. The brisance of the KC primer (300mg out) alone is low, but sufficient for relatively reliable ETN initiation in a solid cavity........



[Edited on 4-7-2024 by Laboratory of Liptakov]

I have lots of hexamine, and lots of KClO3 and plenty of sulfur... would this be a better primer than NHN/ETN mix? I will have to use the latter anyway because I have too much NHN!

Quote: Originally posted by ManyInterests

I have lots of hexamine, and lots of KClO3 and plenty of sulfur... would this be a better primer than NHN/ETN mix? I will have to use the latter anyway because I have too much NHN!

Just a due to sesitivity and unstability was KC primer leaved 3 months in wet conditions. After this, was repeatedly heated and tested on friction sensitivity. Sensitivity is after 3 months same. Similarly as head from of safety matches....

It is possible that ferricyanide and KClO4 will create something beneficial. But it has to be tried. On the other hand, hexamine is probably the most versatile fuel ever. According to the behavior with different oxidizing agents, hexamine shows a special rule. In atmospheric combustion (1 Bar) with oxidizers, it usually burns slowly or very slowly. But once the combustion pressure rises above 100 Bar, hexamine outperforms all other fuels.
And even such fuels that showed almost detonation at 1Bar.....

Quote: Originally posted by Sir_Gawain

Quote: Originally posted by ManyInterests   I have lots of hexamine, and lots of KClO3 and plenty of sulfur... would this be a better primer than NHN/ETN mix? I will have to use the latter anyway because I have too much NHN! I doubt it would approach the power of ETN or NHN. Please be very careful, as anything with chlorate and sulfur is very sensitive.

Yeah, after thinking about it for a moment I think it isn't a good idea to make as an initiating agent.

Also can you have a look at the det cap strategy thread, I am curious as to what you think of my latest results.

Quote: Originally posted by Laboratory of Liptakov

Just a due to sesitivity and unstability was KC primer leaved 3 months in wet conditions. After this, was repeatedly heated and tested on friction sensitivity. Sensitivity is after 3 months same. Similarly as head from of safety matches....

This is very interesting compound and results.

I would think the sensitivity would vary depending on the purity of the sulfur and where it was sourced, but....

We know that the sulphur reacts with oxygen and moisture in air to form acid which is responsible for the sensitivity of pyrotechnic mixtures containg potassium chlorate and sulfur.
You report no increase in sensitivity or spontaneous initiation even after leaving test samples out moist/wet.

Is it possible that the addition of the hexamine (being basic) is reacting with the formed acid and essentially mopping it up which in turn maintains the compounds initial sensitivity?
Hexamine solution is sold and used as a ph buffer solution.

It doesn't appear to be breaking down into ammonia and formaldehyde as I'm sure you would notice a difference in sensitivity if ammonium chlorate was forming

[Edited on 9-7-2024 by greenlight]

greenlight.....Is it interesting, maybe your analysis of stability is truth. Due to minimal hygroscopicity mixture works after long storage.....

Quote: Originally posted by Laboratory of Liptakov

It is possible that ferricyanide and KClO4 will create something beneficial. But it has to be tried. On the other hand, hexamine is probably the most versatile fuel ever. According to the behavior with different oxidizing agents, hexamine shows a special rule. In atmospheric combustion (1 Bar) with oxidizers, it usually burns slowly or very slowly. But once the combustion pressure rises above 100 Bar, hexamine outperforms all other fuels. And even such fuels that showed almost detonation at 1Bar.....