Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Potassium Nitrate + Iron powder - substitute?

RearAdmiral - 23-12-2013 at 17:46

Hello there. I'm new to this forum, but I couldn't find any Introductions section.

I'm trying to find out if there are any mixtures that are similar in effect to a Potassium Nitrate + Iron powder mixture.

I.e. KNO3 + Fe

I've already searched for some info, but no luck.
I've heard that Potassium Permanganate mixtures are generally unstable. The same with Chlorate mixtures.

Zyklon-A - 23-12-2013 at 19:17

Do you not have KNO3?

RearAdmiral - 23-12-2013 at 21:35

Quote: Originally posted by Zyklonb  
Do you not have KNO3?


Thanks for the reply.
Please refer to initial post; I reckon that should explain things.

Dornier 335A - 24-12-2013 at 01:21

The question still remains, do you want to replace KNO3 or iron or both? And what is the effect you are after?

RearAdmiral - 24-12-2013 at 14:58

If KNO3 is not available, how could a similar burning mixture be achieved?

DubaiAmateurRocketry - 24-12-2013 at 15:02

Titanium/ zirconium powder, however it little more fierce than Iron, if you're rich you can also try tantalum or cerium powder.

Potassium nitrate can be substituted by potassium perchlorate, however perchlorate burns more hot/ fast than nitrate.

[Edited on 24-12-2013 by DubaiAmateurRocketry]

chemrox - 24-12-2013 at 15:54

You're being awfully rigid for a newcomer. You might lighten up.
Cheers,
CRX

Zyklon-A - 25-12-2013 at 07:27

You can try Fe+ Sulfur, however they have to be a very fine powder, or else they will not burn fast at all.
I assume that you don't have Zinc/magnesium powder, but Zn or Mg+ sulfur has a very fast burn speed.

RearAdmiral - 26-12-2013 at 14:52

Please allow me to update my initial post....

First of all - a very Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Where I am, KNO3 is not readily available. But still looking.
Well aware of the various metal/sulfur mixtures....but looking for a mixture that can burn underwater (i.e. contains it's own Oxygen). How do the following oxidisers fare with Iron powder (Fe)? Burn rate? Stability? (that's a major issue)

- Potassium Permanganate
- Potassium Chlorate

"Slightly" faster is okay, but not flash powder.
Extra heat is a plus.

I'm well aware of numerous fuel/metal + oxidiser mixtures, but looking for one that is hot, stable, with a nice, slow burn rate....similar to Fe + KNO3.

[Edited on 26-12-2013 by RearAdmiral]

RearAdmiral - 26-12-2013 at 15:03

Quote: Originally posted by DubaiAmateurRocketry  
Titanium/ zirconium powder, however it little more fierce than Iron, if you're rich you can also try tantalum or cerium powder.

Potassium nitrate can be substituted by potassium perchlorate, however perchlorate burns more hot/ fast than nitrate.

[Edited on 24-12-2013 by DubaiAmateurRocketry]


Thanks for your reply.
Exotic ingredients are great, but unavailable. Hence my initial inquiry.

hyfalcon - 26-12-2013 at 15:48

If you consider potassium nitrate an exotic ingredient then you pretty much SOL as far as a pyrotechnic mixture is concerned. If you live in the US then I can't see getting KNO3 a problem.


You can't even make the easiest rocket propellant there is, that's KNO3 and sugar in a 60/40 ratio. Makes a good smoke bomb also only I use 50/50 for that.

[Edited on 26-12-2013 by hyfalcon]

RearAdmiral - 26-12-2013 at 16:04

Quote: Originally posted by hyfalcon  
If you consider potassium nitrate an exotic ingredient then you pretty much SOL as far as a pyrotechnic mixture is concerned. If you live in the US then I can't see getting KNO3 a problem.


You can't even make the easiest rocket propellant there is, that's KNO3 and sugar in a 60/40 ratio. Makes a good smoke bomb also only I use 50/50 for that.

[Edited on 26-12-2013 by hyfalcon]

Back to my initial inquiry. Any help?

chemrox - 26-12-2013 at 16:09

oh well...

This reminds of a Zen koan (from the dawn of Zen in China). A couple of monks showed up at Mt Joshu and asked the master about a tea seller than ran into on the way. The dialogue was something like "how dp we get to Mt Joshu?" and she replied, "Keep going straight that way.."
When they started along the path she added, another goes that way.."
Joshi told them he'd check her out.
He came back a few hours later and told them, "I've checked out the tea seller for you."



[Edited on 27-12-2013 by chemrox]

Hennig Brand - 27-12-2013 at 15:06

Can you get any nitrate salts at all? It may be possible to use them or make KNO3 from them through a simple metathesis reaction with another potassium salt.

Bot0nist - 27-12-2013 at 15:47

If you really really need it, it can be isolated from manurial soil that has been protected from rain, using hot water, wood ashes, and some alcohol. This takes time and lots of work, with little yeild. Investigate some old processes.

As I said in the U2U, potassium and sodium nitrate are so common world wide, and used in so many applications I find it hard to believe you cant source any. Unless your jurisdiction has expressly banned nitrate salts, and are adept at enforcing it. If thats the case, perhaps move to a less oppressive local...