Notice: This is not a dangerous procedure if followed correctly. I have personally used this recipe many times and have never encountered any danger. However; never under any circumstances confine flash powder, preferably make less than 5 grams at a time and remember that flash powder burns extremely bright so never look at burning flash powder for more than a fraction of a second.
Please use your common sense and do not turn this legal procedure into something illegal.
Any other safety precautions will be detailed throughout the article.
Uses of Flash Powder
Flash powder was used in early camera flashes and is still being used in fireworks, firecrackers, decoy flares, stun grenades and general pyrotechnics.
You however can use it as an impressive scientific experiment, in a magic trick or as a prank tool (careful).
How it Works
Flash powder typically works by means of an oxidizer facilitating the extremely bright combustion of a metal fuel (powder).
A sensitizer can also be added to ease ignition.
Usual oxidizers include potassium perchlorate, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate, potassium permanganate.
Fuels can include aluminum powder and magnesium powder.
The “Better Recipe” Ingredients
I will not go into the procurement of the ingredients as this encourages juvenile experimentation. Use your credit card to buy the ingredients online, all these ingredients are safe enough to be shipped.
Oxidizer:
Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) (permanganate of potash); 2 grams. This is the cheapest of the above mentioned oxidizers and the easiest to come by. Fuel:
Aluminum powder (Al); 2 grams. Find the finest mesh possible, I use a powder so fine that it is used in the mining industry to test air circulation. Sensitizer:
Flowers of sulfur (S); 1 gram
The “Better Recipe” Method
I have found this flash powder recipe to be the cheapest, easiest and fastest:
First make sure all the ingredients are as fine as possible, you can use a mortar and pestle to powder the KMnO4 and the sulfur should be fine enough already. Try to find the finest mesh Aluminum to start with as it is very hard to get it any finer than it is already.
Never grind more than one ingredient at a time using a mortar and pestle.
Take your ingredients (2 parts KMnO4, 2 parts Al and 1 part S) and stir it in a soft plastic container with a plastic implement or mix inside a plastic bag until you have a powder of consistent color, unlike black powder or gun powder flash powder need not be mixed extremely well.
Remember to use implements that won't cause sparks.
There! That's it; you have now made high quality pyrotechnics grade flash powder.
Use
Put a pea sized amount on a heat proof surface and light with a match.
Burning flash powder will make an extremely bright white flame for a fraction of a second and is therefore comparable to a bright camera flash posing no danger if used properly.
If you like you can protect your eyes with welding goggles. Even though one flash of the prescribed quantity will only temporarily blind you but leave no permanent damage prolonged exposure may and will cause damage.
This is a safe experiment If done right and will wow spectators.
Conclusion
This is my attempt at a less scientific but safe and fun recipe for the layman.
Always use your common sense and think before you do. Not doing the before mentioned once resulted in sulfuric acid burns for me; don't make the same mistake when working with potentially unsafe chemicals.
Enjoy and be safe.
