averageaussie - 29-7-2024 at 17:44
Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone had any useful resources on hombergs mixture.
Much of the information I was able to find online is either incomplete or vague in its wording.
I do understand that it is a mixture of a carbon source (usually sugar) and alum (KAl(SO4)2), which when heated results in a very flammable, porous
form of carbon, which ignites in air on its own.
Does anyone know what method this functions under, what ratios to use, and why potassium alum needs to be used?
Thanks, Average
Edit: I understand if mods want this post moved to beginnings or even detritus, was just curious if anyone had any resources on this apparently
elusive mixture.
[Edited on 30-7-2024 by averageaussie]
yobbo II - 3-8-2024 at 15:24
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&am...
File attached
Yob
[Edited on 3-8-2024 by yobbo II]
Attachment: num3 p21-24 (1).pdf (483kB)
This file has been downloaded 174 times
averageaussie - 5-8-2024 at 14:35
Cheers
Morgan - 6-8-2024 at 10:48
A video of the Homberg mixture would be interesting.
"One of the first pyrophorus was made by Willem Homberg (1652-1715) by mixing 3 parts of alum with 2 or 3 parts of honey, flour, and sugar, and then
carefully drying the mixture, with constant agitation, in an iron pan. The mixture at first melted, and then dried into small pieces, which were
reduced to powder and then roasted again. A portion of this powder sprinkled over dry cotton caused it to take fire."
From PDF Matches-The manufacture of fire
[Edited on 7-8-2024 by Morgan]