Aluminum / Plaster - 'nuther kind of Thermite

[xBangergoosEx]

Does this take a lot to ignite? i tried with simple firework fuse and it wouldnt ignite

[desinfector]

@xBangergoosEx

yup thats not enough.

Use electric sparklers (the ordinary toy)

or magnesium strips.

[raspe567]

i mean at same reaction works with copper sulfate

[desinfector]

aye now I get it :)

sure, this will work on any substance containing enough oxygen.

I made it with SiO2, NaCO3. It would even work below water level, so when a piece of burning Al or Mg is trown into water it will "eat up" the H2O's oxygen to release hydrogen

[raspe567]

3 CaSO4 + 8 Al -> 3 CaS + 4 Al2O3

CaSO4 M=136.15g/mol

Al M=26.98g/mol

3 CuSO4 + 8 Al -> 3 CuS + 4 Al2O3

CuSO4 M=159.62g/mol

Al M=26.98

3mol CuSO4 ja 8mol Al = 478.86g CuSO4 ja 215.84g Al.

69% CuSO4 ja 31% Al

[desinfector]

@raspe567

CuSO4 ? wheres the copper from?

guess it was just a mistyping.

These are the main reactions that can be expected, but there seem to be others.

I didnt analyse this (have no access to such equipment) but my nose "can tell" me:

it smells a bit like rotten eggs afterwards. so this creates a bit H2S as well.

[SulaFreaks]

that's kinda unstable:P

[BryanBeatsYouAll]

I've always wondered what's left over from this reaction, if it was molten metal like from real thermite but I guess I won't find out unless I do it myself. Oh, and where did you get your aluminum powder from? Did you make it yourself or did you buy it?

[desinfector]

@Bryan

Now mMy Aluminun powder is partally self made, partially bought from a local dealer for paints.

But the powder used here in this vid was a 63micron powder bought from the dealer.

The mix of selfmade and bought powder (with plaster) can burn as intense as shown here, but its harder to ignite.

The leftover of this reaction is quite like a piece of rock, but it can be crumbled quite easily.

[yahoorif]

are you a german soldier?

[desinfector]

I've been in the German Navy.

in the 90's.

[snowisthebestweather]

The newest in lawn defrosting! (WARNING: may cause lawn to burn)

Maybe you should have done that on the road right next to where you lit that. I'm sure a driver would see that, if not be blinded by that.

[JohnnyTheChemist]

What is "plaster"?

[desinfector]

white plaster of paris

-I used dry powder here

[rcfreak2493]

were id you get the plaster from?

[desinfector]

U can get it in any hardware store.

If not - its not a hardware store then... :-)

[whimsical3492]

can u get aluminum powder from grinding a popcan

[Bnewman8629]

soda cans have a thin layer of plastic on the inside and paint on the outside. not the best thing to use

[pyroplusBigP]

grind some aluminium ( tin foil ) in a blender then coffee grinder

[yahoorif]

yeah, but it could be hard to do that. just blend aluminium foil instead.

[MetallicA9112]

where did u get your aluminum powder?

[desinfector]

I got it from a local shop for paints.

But its possible not to use fine (and expensive) powder for the entire reaction. Starting with fine powder to ignite aliminum chips in plaster is the cheapest way to have a flare like that

[MetallicA9112]

Ok thank you very much; i was about to buy my aluminum from ebay.