Thread: Any people good with applying chemistry?

  1. #1
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    1,916

    Any people good with applying chemistry?

    I'm looking for a way to make powdered aluminum - the smaller the grains, the better. I know that it's probably possible to buy it, but I would rather make it if it's possible and not too hard, since I have plenty of aluminum and I don't have a lot of money. So, does anyone know a way to reduce the aluminum to a fine powder? I can just rust other metals in salt water, but I don't know what to do for the aluminum. Thanks for any help you can offer, even if you tell me I'll have to do it mechanically.
    Away.

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    137
    Reactions that produce powderd aluminum will be damm hard if not impossible to get as far as I know. I don't know the specific chemistry of it but just thinking about the thermodynamics of it. Entropy wants to increase with spontaneous things (IE room gets messy and hot drinks go cold), solid mettalic aluminium would be a mettalic lattice, IE highly orderd and unfavourable to form in a reaction. This may make no sense to you but I'm basically saying I'm pretty sure mechanical is going to be your only option.

    Oh my god, all the stuff they tell me about learning principles instead of examples is actually useful, who'd have thought it.
    Last edited by crag2804; 06-16-2003 at 04:45 PM.
    http://uk.geocities.com/ca_chorltonkids

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    137
    By the way, watch out, powerderd aluminium might be a bit keen when it comes to reacting. Watch where you let sparks fly.
    http://uk.geocities.com/ca_chorltonkids

  4. #4
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    1,916
    Thanks. This experiment is going to be performed outside with water nearby for any grass fires we accidentally start in my yard.
    Away.

  5. #5
    ¡Amo fútbol!
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Posts
    2,138
    Why would you need powdered aluminum?

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Posts
    552
    How about a couple of rocks? lol
    C Code. C Code Run. Run Code Run... Please!

    "Love is like a blackhole, you fall into it... then you get ripped apart"

  7. #7
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    1,916
    >>Why would you need powdered aluminum?

    Thermite.
    Away.

  8. #8
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    1,708
    what's that?

  9. #9
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Posts
    563
    i forgot everthing about chemistry, that is nothing left in my mind even a piece.

  10. #10
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    1,916
    http://genchem.chem.wisc.edu/demonst...reaction.htm\\ gives a short summary and a little video, http://www.geeksarecool.com/anarchy/010.txt isn't very reliable, but they get the general idea about right... anyway, I'm just doing it for fun. If you want more details, search Google. The stuff burns at 2000 C... I think that's pretty cool.
    Away.

  11. #11
    ¡Amo fútbol!
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Posts
    2,138
    Dude, I wouldn't screw around with stuff like that if you want to stay alive.

  12. #12
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    1,916
    It's stable, and hard to get to ignite. I'll be lighting it in a manner that allows me to get away with plenty of time... I don't mess around with things unless I know I can do it safely. I might actually work out an electronic ignition for this... don't worry, I'm not a moron, just a curious person.
    Away.

  13. #13
    Back after 2 years Panopticon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    262
    But chemical reactions that go bang are sooo boring

    if i had $, spare time and know-how i'd spend it on amateur EM stuff like making tesla coils that can arc across half a metre, or even a simple coil gun.
    I AM WINNER!!!1!111oneoneomne

  14. #14
    The Earth is not flat. Clyde's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Posts
    1,403
    I have no idea how to make powdered Aluminium, but i would advise against trying the thermite reaction.

    Ignition is normally done with a strip of magnesium, but presumeably you don't have one, as far as i know a normal flame won't work.

    Also be aware that the thermite rxn will burn through most containers (forget a metal container).

    Once again my advice is simply not to do it.

  15. #15
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    Lol. So THAT is how you can break into payphone cashboxes easily!
    Such is life.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Integration problems
    By Shiro in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 01-14-2003, 02:32 PM
  2. Will you sign up to fight?
    By mithrandir in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 246
    Last Post: 01-27-2002, 01:48 PM
  3. People these days...
    By Aran in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 11-03-2001, 04:22 PM
  4. Religious Bull****
    By Witch_King in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 119
    Last Post: 10-23-2001, 07:14 AM
  5. IT people - weird genius or simply narrow-minded, antisocial, lazy people
    By Carlos in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-11-2001, 05:00 AM