The Power of Armstrongs Mixture - Red Phosphorus + KClO4 - Composition Testing (0.3g-0.6g)

DISCLAIMER: FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY:
I am a professional idiot, i do these things so you dont have to! Armstrongs mix, is incredibly sensitive to both shock an friction. If you do end up wanting a go (which will be 90% of you lot! :P), never make more than 1g at a time, and only mix the 2 components in the composition using the diaper method.
I was using KClO4, which should demonstrate how powerful KClO3 based comps are!

All tests detonated, and gave off enough pressure to inflict structural damage to the items the comps were sitting on. The first test made my right ear drum bleed, as i stupidly didnt wear ear defenders! - DO NOT FORGET TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION AND EAR DEFENDERS, you only get one set of eyes and ears!

Composition : 50/50 - Red Phosphorus/ KClO4

Normal service will resume soon!

Enjoy

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• armstrongs
• mix
• mixture
• comp
• composition
• red
• phosphorus
• kclo4
• kclo3
• pressure
• sensitive
• detonation
• blasting
• cap
• murdoch
• pyroed
• murdoch2486

[HappyToHaveFingers]

I'm working on a desensitiser, at the moment. Oils, waxes, and vaseline are used heavily to desensitise, problem being the dextrin. Wax would work as binder too, but is also problematic. The wax method coats grains, in a kind of grinder with molten wax! I'm thinking of trying a water, oil, and emulsifier mix with dextrin. In theory, the water/oil stay in suspension of each other, with emulsifier. Water activates the dextrin, and the oil desensitises. I could be wrong, but it's worth a go.

[murdoch2486]

@HappyToHaveFingers

sounds like you may be onto something there? its always worth a go

let me know how you get on

[chinathunder]

mixture 1:1?? or 1:2?

[murdoch2486]

@chinathunder

I was using 50/50, KClO4/Red P

[rambbo12]

where do you get your Red Phosphorus do you get it from match box

[sadeyedangel]

@Dornier335A

Hmm. That's interesting, I wonder if it is higher than the velocity of sound in say, NH4NO3 or cheddite explosives?

[Dornier335A]

@flamedrag18

About 3800 m/s. I measured it myself, but I don't know what density it had.

[Dornier335A]

@sadeyedangel

I measured the VoD on KClO3 based AM. I don't know what density it had, but it detonated at about 3800 m/s.

[theguywith1face]

Pretty mad mate :)

Just think about that with KClO3! Then, as Dornier has shown, adding ferrocerium is quite special too. Good vid mate.

[sadeyedangel]

I would also like to know the "detonation" velocity, curious about this being used as a blasting cap.

[MortenFS95]

is "kclo3 + red phosphorous" stronger than "kclo4 + red phosphorous" ??

[flamedrag18]

what's the detonation velocity of Armtrong's mix? is it a true primary explosive of detonator quality?

[alicenchains59]

that there is some mean ass shit!!!

[HappyToHaveFingers]

@HappyToHaveFingers

I tested chlorate and sulphur on it's own, and it wasn't sensitive enough (could have been the ratio I used though, I normally avoid chlorate/sulphur, the ratio I used was 3:1 in favour of chlorate). I tried adding a 5% RP boost, and it exploded in the barrel. With using chlorate this time, the explosion was much more powerful, most of the pellet skirt was firmly welded to the barrel. I have reduced RP to 2%, and will be testing again later.