Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

primaries aren't very exothermic. secondaries are

 

oh, and black powder is a very low explosive, comparatively speaking

flash powder is a high explosive (depending on what you make it with)

  • Replies 72
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted
primaries aren't very exothermic. secondaries are

 

oh' date=' and black powder is a very low explosive, comparatively speaking

flash powder is a high explosive (depending on what you make it with)[/quote']

 

as I`ve already stated NO THEY ARE NOT explosives!

 

not at all, in anyway shape or form.

 

not even by comparison!

Posted

Actually, YT, flashpowder and gunpowder are defined as explosives. An explosive is any combination of an oxidizer and a fuel which reacts in rapid succession producing large quantities of heat and gas. Flashpowder and gunpowder meet these requirements. A High Explosive, however, must decompose through detonation when not confined; be comprised of a single compound and not a mixture; decompose at a supersonic rate; have a high level of brisance; and be initiated by shock and/or heat.

 

A Low Explosive decomposes subsonically through deflagration which is the generation of large amounts of heat and light; will either never detonate, or detonate only if tightly confined; are generally mixtures of compounds.

 

Black powder and flash powder are mixtures of chemicals and cannot "detonate" unless highly confined. Therefore, they are low explosives.

Posted

"Actually, YT, flashpowder and gunpowder are defined as explosives. An explosive is any combination of an oxidizer and a fuel which reacts in rapid succession producing large quantities of heat and gas."

well, does atmospheric O2 really count as an oxidizing agent?

 

i thought flash powder was a high explosive. if you load a gun for example, with flash powder, the gun will explode. if you use black powder, the bullet will be pushed outwards

Posted

A high explosive will detonate if in an unconfined state. If you take flash powder and put it on the sidewalk and ignite it, it will not detonate. It will deflagrate, but not detonate. With flashpowder and gunpowder, the presence of the nitrates/chlorates/perchlorates are the oxidizers, and either sugar, charcoal/sulfur, or metal shavings provide the fuel. Atmospheric O2 plays no role in their ignition.

Posted

Low explosives can only detonate if put into a confined space. Guncotton, Gunpowder, and Flashpowder will all detonate if put into a confined space like inside a gun. Remember, all of these are just chemical reactions. Just as one chemical reaction can generate more energy than another, one low explosive can produce more energy than another low explosive.

Posted

DDT = Deflagration to Detonation Transition.

 

and flash powder and gunpowder cannot Detonate! they CAN explode but only by flame/heat propogation.

 

a true explosive uses shockwave propogation and requires no heat at all (ot confinement).

 

one is mechanical (BP and Flash) the other is Molecular.

 

 

edit: here`s a clearer way of explaining Primaries and Secondaries:

 

Primary Explosives

 

They are extremely sensitive and require a small quantity of energy to be initiated. They are mainly used in detonators to initiate secondary explosives.

 

Secondary Explosives

 

They are relatively insensitive and need a great amount of energy to initiate decomposition. They have much more power than primary explosives and are used in demolition. The require a detonator to explode. Some secondary explosives are insensitive enough that they can be lit with a match -- or a torch -- and will simply burn like wood; a detonation wave is never formed.

 

(text links edited out for safety)

 

taken from: http://www.answers.com/topic/explosive-material

Posted

Heh, that's the exact site I used for all of my information YT. You're right, gunpowder and flash powder are NOT High Explosives, but they are technically classified as explosive mixtures/compounds.

 

Explosives are distinguished between high explosives, which detonate, and low explosives, which deflagrate:

 

Low Explosives burn through deflagration rather than a detonation wave, are usually a mixture, are initiated by heat and require confinement to create an explosion; and

High Explosives explode in supersonic reactions and without confinement, are compounds, are initiated by shock or heat and have high brisance (the shattering effect of an explosion).

 

Note that some explosive materials can fall into either category, according to how they are initiated. For example, nitrocellulose deflagrates if ignited, but detonates if initiated by a strong detonator.

 

So as for high explosives, gunpowder and flash powder are definitely not high explosives; they are low explosives, but they definitely meet the requirements needed to call something an explosive. The link you provided fully backs this up. So until you can provide a source link which states that gunpowder and flashpowder are DEFINITIVELY not an explosive, I simply cannot accept your argument. :D

  • 2 months later...
Posted

Sorry if it has been mentioned above, but Im pretty sure it wasnt. I have a solution of Zinc Sulphate, and I would like to get my zinc out. What could I add to displace the zinc? Thanks :)

Posted

Gunpowder can detonate if it is unconfined, if it is above a certain weight in a pile. The weight of the gunpowder sort of confines it.

 

And in between primaries and secondaries there's often a 'booster'.

Posted

There was an electroplating company which folks could take nickel plated over copper teapots and such which used reverse electrolysis to strip the plating off so as to have a copper piece. I don't know what the chemistry is for this process though, not understanding electrolysis and exactly how it works.

Posted

but pennies have a relively thick copper layer, and electroplating that off (and evenly) would take a while.

Posted
Gunpowder can detonate if it is unconfined, if it is above a certain weight in a pile. The weight of the gunpowder sort of confines it.

Dosen't that make it confined?

 

~Scott

Posted
Gunpowder can detonate if it is unconfined' date=' if it is above a certain weight in a pile. The weight of the gunpowder sort of confines it.

[/quote']

 

Gunpowder as in BP cannot "Detonate" even IF confined!

 

and even self confinement, is still confinement.

Posted

I put some Aluminium foil in the solution of zinc sulphate. It has been three days since i did this and there has been no change. Is there something that i need to do to the foil? thanks

Posted

Maybe the oxide layer isn't wearing off the foil? The problem with aluminum foil is it forms an annoying oxide layer that resists corrosion. If that's the case, try adding a little sulfuric acid to help it along.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.