[AR] AP + Zn + DICY
- From: Keith Henson <hkeithhenson@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 19:11:44 -0800
Dr Edward Jones <RocketPioneer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Has there been discussion here about solid propellant based upon AP
with zinc dust and DICY?
This is probably OK, but you sure want to test it. Ammonium nitrate
and a little zinc dust (5% or so) will burst into flame in a few
seconds with a drop of water on it.
I learned this trick from an anthropologist who used to amaze the Baha
natives by lighting fires for them this way.
It's not safe to make it up and leave it long term in a bottle as
thermal cycling will sometimes make enough water to set it off. (The
anthropologist nearly lost his car when some burst into flames.)
If anyone knows the reaction involved, I would appreciate your posting it.
Keith
PS. When I was a little kid (6) a much older kid (mayby 12 or so)
showed me the wonders of chemistry with something that I suspect was
this reaction. He put a drop of something (water?) into a 15 ml
bottle, capped, and threw it. The bottle exploded about 40 feet from
him.
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