Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > Work Bench > Building Techniques
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #11  
Old 03-09-2018, 02:03 AM
CuriousAmateur CuriousAmateur is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 16
Default

neil_w, thanks for the tip!

tbzep, good to know--we don't currently have and old casings, but we'll watch for some

ghrocketman, It does seem that a lot of people use PVC cases. There are also other non-PVC plasic options, but I don't know if they are any better. PVC can itself be a fuel, so it also makes some sense. I'm having a hard time finding safety infor on zinc/sulfur fuels. Any pointers?

tmacklin, I was wondering abount doing that, and of even wrapping our own paperboard with glue. we'll look for West Systems epoxy, too.

Last edited by CuriousAmateur : 03-09-2018 at 02:08 AM. Reason: grammar
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-09-2018, 02:07 AM
CuriousAmateur CuriousAmateur is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 16
Default

So I finally found MSDS info on our Potassium Nitrate source. It is 99% KNO3, 1% Calcium Stearate.

I know that Calcium Chloride is a fire suppressant, and since Calcium Stearate is also a calcium salt, does it have a similar effect? If so, it's going to be a pain to remove, since it is also a crystal.

As always, thank you everyone!

Last edited by CuriousAmateur : 03-09-2018 at 02:09 AM. Reason: accuracy
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-09-2018, 06:47 AM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,418
Default

You are not going to find much in the way of "safety" information for zinc/sulfur propellant due to the simple fact it is NOT SAFE.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-09-2018, 11:15 AM
astronwolf's Avatar
astronwolf astronwolf is offline
Lost his Drifter
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 1,267
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CuriousAmateur
So I finally found MSDS info on our Potassium Nitrate source. It is 99% KNO3, 1% Calcium Stearate.

I know that Calcium Chloride is a fire suppressant, and since Calcium Stearate is also a calcium salt, does it have a similar effect? If so, it's going to be a pain to remove, since it is also a crystal.

You are on the wrong forum. There are friendly folks who might give you some casual advise here, and maybe a couple here (who aren't talking) with actual expertise. It looks like you established an account here just to talk about sugar rocket propellant. No big a priori deal with that. But when you have to ask "...is calcium stearate like calcium chloride because they are both calcium salts?" I'm calling out "BS". I think you are too uneducated to be cook book mixing up propellants in your garage and trying to load it into cases. You're going to blow yourself up. At the very least your going to get the stuff all over your clothes. Wear gloves and an apron. Sheesh.

And stay the hec away from zinc/sulfur micrograin.
__________________
-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-09-2018, 12:36 PM
Rocketflyer's Avatar
Rocketflyer Rocketflyer is offline
Member in Good Standing!
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,209
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
You are on the wrong forum. There are friendly folks who might give you some casual advise here, and maybe a couple here (who aren't talking) with actual expertise. It looks like you established an account here just to talk about sugar rocket propellant. No big a priori deal with that. But when you have to ask "...is calcium stearate like calcium chloride because they are both calcium salts?" I'm calling out "BS". I think you are too uneducated to be cook book mixing up propellants in your garage and trying to load it into cases. You're going to blow yourself up. At the very least your going to get the stuff all over your clothes. Wear gloves and an apron. Sheesh.

And stay the hec away from zinc/sulfur micrograin.



I agree with Wolfram. This is not the right forum to be asking questions about amataure rocketry motor making. Zn/S is not something you really don't want to mess with. All in all, if you aren't taking extreme measures to be safe, you can win a Darwin Award. Play it safe at all costs.
__________________
Enjoy life, it has an expiration date.

Last edited by Rocketflyer : 03-11-2018 at 01:53 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 03-10-2018, 09:54 AM
luke strawwalker's Avatar
luke strawwalker luke strawwalker is offline
BAR
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Needville and Shiner, TX
Posts: 6,134
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
You are not going to find much in the way of "safety" information for zinc/sulfur propellant due to the simple fact it is NOT SAFE.


Yeah it's essentially "flash powder" is it not... basically ANYTHING will set it off.

I think the problems with your motors are due to some error in the process... there's a video on YouTube of "The King of Random" where he makes similar motors. He uses the gray PVC hose nipples to make his motors because IIRC they're not as "brittle" and prone to shatter as regular PVC... IIRC they'd crack in two before they shatter. They say not to install air lines in shops with PVC (which I read a year after I'd installed my PVC air system) because if the pipe breaks under pressure basically it "explodes" with fragments of PVC blown all over the shop by the force of the compressed air behind it propelling it as it expands. Water and other liquids don't compress, so essentially if a water PVC pipe breaks the pressure is "instantly" relieved and therefore does not "propel" or continue to exert force on the pipe to shatter it into smaller fragments like air does.

Anyway, I haven't replaced my air system and it's been in there for most of 20 years... when it comes to air systems in shops they recommend either steel pipe or flex pipe (essentially, PEX or the black poly tubing with gray fittings...

Later! OL J R
__________________
The X-87B Cruise Basselope-- THE Ultimate Weapon in the arsenal of Homeland Security and only $52 million per round!
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 03-10-2018, 08:51 PM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,604
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by luke strawwalker
Yeah it's essentially "flash powder" is it not... basically ANYTHING will set it off.

It varies. It took effort to light it with a Bunsen burner to demonstrate synthesis reactions when I taught science. I mixed it on a small square of paper and set it on a mesh screen over the burner. I seldom had the perfect mix, which I recall was 6 to 1 by weight, but after the first time weighing it out, I always just estimated the size of each pile. It lit after the flame got on it a few seconds and provided quite the show, stinking up our whole wing. The other teachers hated it, which delighted the kids and myself.

The more fine the powder, the easier and quicker it went up. I used flowers of sulfur and I don't recall how fine the zinc was, but I didn't try to mill it down any finer. IIRC, it can be friction, static and shock sensitive to some degree depending on how it is prepared, particle size, the phase of Saturn and Uranus, how you hold your tongue, and whether or not your cat has recently puked up a hair ball.
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 03-10-2018, 09:42 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,418
Default

tbzep basically described ZnS to a tee.
It even under the best controlled conditions is very often unpredictable. That is what makes it so unsafe, if not downright foolish to use. There are so many better alternatives.
There is NOTHING good I can say about using ZnS for ANYTHING.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 03-12-2018, 05:57 PM
CuriousAmateur CuriousAmateur is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 16
Default Good to know

Okay, thank you everyone for your responses!
I do understand the instability of zinc/sulfur, and I would like to point out that if we were not taking safety precautions, I probably wouldn't be asking about safety concerns.

I know that most if not all of you are dealing with many other and more advanced topics, but I appreciate your time on this!

tbzep, that's good to know. I knew it could be unpredictable, which was why we hadn't tried it.

ghrocketman, I am curious what "many better alternatives" you might suggest. Good to know about the lack of safety though.

luke strawwalker, Thanks for the tip! We have seen several "The king of random" videos, although they provide minimal detail in certain situations. We did our best to follow those directions step-by-step, but had the same issue. I suspect it is a chemistry problem. We will consider and try looking for the hose nipples you suggested, although right now, the PSI our white mix generates is barely enough to even measure.

astronwolf, A bucket of cold water never hurts, and I do appreciate your concern. We are doing our best to take precautions and take it slow. (And yes, gloves and aprons are involved, as well as fire extinguishers, and more) As for blowing ourselves up, that is why we are talking and researching, instead of just trying blindly. One of "the right forums" couldn't help, which is why I was seeking some varied advice. If you have suggestions as to where this should be asked, we welcome them. Meanwhile, we are doing reading (offline as well as online). We entirely understand that the smallest chemical change can alter the molecule's properties immensely. It was a guess based on my lack of understanding of calcium stearate.

Last edited by CuriousAmateur : 03-12-2018 at 11:00 PM. Reason: grammar
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 03-12-2018, 08:36 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,418
Default

APCP and ANCP are far safer alternatives to ZnS.

Messing around with ZnS is JUST PLAIN FOOLISH.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:00 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024