Antiswat, I think using a very hot solution of sodium bicarbonate to neutralize any residual acids would help. Any residual acids, even a little bit I
would imagine, could effect burn speed and performance. Impeding it from drying fully, and faster degradation, at the very least.
I have often boiled in fresh water, (after several ice cold rinses to remove the bulk of acids) and then in a concentrated bicarb solution. After the
thorough rinsing only a slow and small evolution of CO<sub>2<sub/> is observed upon addition to the hot bicarb solution. Oh, and speaking
of long relation times, more time spent rinsing and nutralizing the better.
Burn speed is so dependant on how the material is fluffed out and the partial size of the piece being lit, and dryness, humidity, size(confinement),
etc. What is the purpose of "burn speed?" For propellant use?
If knowing that full and proper nitration has happened is what is desired, then I would agian suggest that consistent controlled impact testing is the
best determinant. It won't give you the exact nitrogen content or anything, but if the densities and confinments are identical, and the force from the
blow identical, between two identical smooth steel surfaces, then only the "cream of the crop" will detonate reliable. In my experiance.
U.T.F.S.E. and learn the joys of autodidacticism!
Don't judge each day only by the harvest you reap, but also by the seeds you sow.
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