PYRODEX*
Pyrodex is a synthetic powder that is used like black powder, and
which can be substituted by volume for standard blackpowder. It comes in
the many of the standard grades, but it is more expensive per pound.
However, a one pound container of pyrodex contains more material by volume
than one pound of black powder. Pyrodex is much easier to crush to a very
fine powder than black powder, and it is considerably safer and more
reliable. This is because Pyrodex is less sensitive to friction and static
electricity, and it absorbs moisture more slowly than black powder. Pyrodex
can be crushed in the same manner as black powder, or it can be dissolved
in boiling water and dried in the sun.
Rifle/Shotgun Powder
Rifle and shotgun propellants are usually nitrocellulose based with
additives to modify the burning rate. They will be referred to as smokeless
powder in all future references. Smokeless powder is made by the action of
concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid upon cotton or some other cellulose
material, a process that is described on page 19. This material is then
dissolved by solvents and then reformed in the desired grain size.
When dealing with smokeless powder, the grain size is not nearly as
important as that of black powder. Both large and small grained powders burn
fairly slowly compared to black powder when unconfined, but when it is
confined, smokeless burns both hotter and produces a greater volume of gas,
producing more pressure. Therefore, the grinding process that is often
necessary for other propellants is not necessary for smokeless.
Smokeless powder costs slightly more than black powder. In most states
any citizen with a valid driver's license can buy it, since there are
currently few restrictions on rifles or shotguns in the U.S. There are now
ID checks in many states when purchasing powder at a retail outlet, however
mail order purchases from another state are not subject to such checks. When
purchased by mail order propellants must be shipped by a private carrier,
since the Postal Service will not carry hazardous materials. Shipping
charges will be high, due to Department Of Transportation regulations on
packaging flammable and explosive materials.
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is a high explosive material that is used as a
commercial "safety explosive". It is very stable, and is difficult to ignite
with a match, and even then will not explode under normal circumstances. It
is also difficult to detonate; (the phenomenon of detonation will be
explained later) as it requires a powerful shockwave to cause it act as a
high explosive.
Commercially, ammonium nitrate is sometimes mixed with a small amount
of nitroglycerine to increase its sensitivity. A versatile chemical,
ammonium nitrate is used in the "Cold-Paks" or "Instant Cold", available in
most drug stores. The "Cold Paks" consist of a bag of water, surrounded by
a second plastic bag containing the ammonium nitrate. To get the ammonium
nitrate, simply cut off the top of the outside bag, remove the plastic bag
of water, and save the ammonium nitrate in a well sealed, airtight
container. It is hygroscopic, (it tends to absorb water from the air) and
will eventually be neutralized if it is allowed to react with water, or used
in compounds containing water. Ammonium nitrate may also be found in many
fertilizers.
Flash Powder
Flash powder is a mixture of powdered aluminum or magnesium metal and
one of any number of oxidizers. It is extremely sensitive to heat or sparks,
and should be treated with more care than black powder, and under no
circumstances should it be mixed with black powder or any other explosives.
Small quantities of flash powder can be purchased from magic shops and
theatrical suppliers in the form of two small containers, which must be
mixed before use. Commercial flash powder is not cheap but it is usually
very reliable. There are three speeds of flash powder commonly used in
magic, however only the fast flash powder can be used to create reliable
explosives.
Flash powder should always be mixed according to the method given at
the beginning of the book, and under no circumstances should it be shaken
or stored in any packaging which might carry static electricity.
