Tracking Smoke Formula

M Lampert · 2004-01-08T18:02:33+00:00

I am giving serious consideration to making my own tracking smoke canisters in 29mm and 38mm sizes... just right to fit into a Pro38 or AT motor casing and then into a motor tube either set up as one tube of a cluster at the aft end... or into a tube built into the nosecone.I need lots of thick smoke and I need it to last (at my discretion) anywhere from a minute to 4 minutes or so.Ignition of smoke along with motor ignition at launch... smoke all the way up and all the way down.Ignition of smoke in the nosecone tube set off by a breakwire when the nosecone is ejected (to avoid the obvious problems incurred when smoke goes off with the nosecone still attached).I have visited the Firefox website and they have several formulas, some being already premixed and 'just add oxidizer' - others being a 'do it yourself' kit (non hazmat). So here's the question - it would appear that there MANY variations on smoke generation formulas.... does anyone have any source materials for a non-chemist to make use of. Better yet, anyone have a tried and proven formula?TIAMurray L.LDRS - July 1-6/04 - Geneseo NYBe there or be square.

Jan 08, 2004 30 Replies

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Doktor DynaSoar 22 years ago

} So here's the question - it would appear that there MANY variations on } smoke generation formulas.... does anyone have any source materials for } a non-chemist to make use of. Better yet, anyone have a tried and proven } formula? }

Consider the non-pyrotechnic possibilities.

Aqueous solution of titanium tetrachloride or silicon tetrachloride + ammonium hydroxide.

Both handled/mixed as liquid. Upon exposure to air in aerosol form they undergo reactions with water to form white smoke.

Allowing it to trail out of a rocket and into the air would almost certainly produce sufficient aerosolization (?! if that's a word).

Note that these, and their products, are not harmless.

Also, there's always the way the RCers do it, oil smoke. It'd be up to you to figure out how to heat it with your exhaust without igniting it, but I bet it's doable.

Technical tips at:

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Oil smoke recipies at:

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hmasmmb 22 years ago

Just a guess but is Hexachloroethane also kwon as Hexamine????

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Jeff Taylor 22 years ago

Nope. Not even close.

Hexamine is (CH2)6N4. Hexachloroethane is C2Cl6.

Very different compounds, with very different properties.

-JT

hmasmmb wrote:

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Scott McCrate 22 years ago

"hmasmmb"

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Mark Johnson 22 years ago

[Snipped dangerous groundhog stories]

Agreed. We used to shoot 'em from 300-400 yards with a high-powered rifle. My dad doesn't have much problem with groundhogs these days - the coyotes eat most of 'em. Wildlife patterns do change, over time.

One groundhog can nibble away about a half-acre or more of tender little soybean shoots, accounting for a loss of hundreds of dollars. Well worth spending some time hunting them...

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hmasmmb 22 years ago

I was being funny.... However please note the Kangaroos are just as much fun as Groundhogs.

If a dog coners one it gets up on its tail and guts the dog, or if near water will hop into the water and when the dog chases it in will hold the dog under water. And please the cute furry little critters in Zoo's are not Western Greys. The Buck will grow up too 2M. I dont even mess with them without a 7.62NATO FMJ in my rifle.

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bit eimer 22 years ago

How do they taste?

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Bob Kaplow 22 years ago

Like CHICKEN I'm sure...

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

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JDcluster 22 years ago

Have you ever eaten at MC Donalds ?

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hmasmmb 22 years ago

A bit like venison but I find they taste a little like 11 secret herbs and spices. Must be from all the grass. Dogs love it but if they eat to much of it they get the squirts ( so do humans) If you ever all come over for a rocket launching weekend I throw a piece or 2 on the Barbie ( BBQ). But remember one small thing....I am a Heritic!

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hmasmmb 22 years ago

I might make a Kangroo shaped rokect aka Team Versata.........

Mike

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