The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Non Life Sciences
  3. Chemistry
  4. How do I make aluminum powder?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

How do I make aluminum powder?

  • 10 Replies
  • 44077 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Anarchistkid (OP)

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 11
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
How do I make aluminum powder?
« on: 26/01/2008 02:41:48 »
I'm trying to make fine aluminum powder. I found that if i mix aluminum foil with any liquid plumber it makes the aluminum hard and brittle as well as producing a lot of hydrogen gas. If i file this "treated" foil down into a powder is it the same as aluminum powder?
« Last Edit: 09/05/2008 22:26:35 by chris »
Logged
 



Offline Anarchistkid (OP)

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 11
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #1 on: 26/01/2008 02:42:39 »
I think i worded that kinda weird what i'm trying to say is could i mix this with iron oxide to make thermite instead of going and filing aluminum sheets or buying powder?
 
Logged
 

Offline lightarrow

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 4605
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 13 times
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #2 on: 26/01/2008 08:31:20 »
Quote from: Anarchistkid on 26/01/2008 02:41:48
I'm trying to make fine aluminum powder. I found that if i mix aluminum foil with any liquid plumber it makes the aluminum hard and brittle as well as producing a lot of hydrogen gas. If i file this "treated" foil down into a powder is it the same as aluminum powder?
If the plumber is NaOH or however a strong basis as usually is (but not always), then, with Al, you get Al(OH)3, NaAlO2, Al2O3; all compounds of aluminum, so, not aluminum anymore and so useless for thermite.
Logged
 

Offline Anarchistkid (OP)

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 11
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #3 on: 27/01/2008 03:39:28 »
o ok thanks
Logged
 

Offline JimBob

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6543
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 8 times
  • Moderator
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #4 on: 27/01/2008 07:49:38 »
Thermite is available commercially.
Logged
The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
 



Offline lightarrow

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 4605
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 13 times
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #5 on: 28/01/2008 18:11:01 »
Quote from: JimBob on 27/01/2008 07:49:38
Thermite is available commercially.
You lucky american!  [;)]
Logged
 

Offline JimBob

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6543
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 8 times
  • Moderator
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #6 on: 28/01/2008 18:59:49 »
Quote from: lightarrow on 28/01/2008 18:11:01
Quote from: JimBob on 27/01/2008 07:49:38
Thermite is available commercially.
You lucky american!  [;)]

You do need a valid purpose and a special license to get it, but it is available.
Logged
The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
 

Offline Basement_Chemist

  • First timers
  • *
  • 1
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #7 on: 09/05/2008 22:02:43 »
Im Warning everyone who uses it for fun and games... yes i want to make it but im only 17 and cant buy the materials needed. You can buy Al powder at paint shops ( why they sell it i dont know ) the Iorn Oxide ( aka RUST ) can be easily made by taking 2 iorn rods and hooking one up to a positive side of a car battery or car battery charger and the other to the negitive and place them in salt water for numerous hours. then take a filter and run the rust infested water through it ( how u hold the filter up is up to you ) then set the black mucky rust under a hot lamp for about 24 hrs till it all turns to a powdery brown rust.

I will not tell you how to make thermite however after you do make it get a magnesium strip for a fuse.... a long strip this burns at very high temp because it is extreamly hard to get thermite burning.. However i do not recomend doing this on ur friends or anyone for the matter the temp of thermite reaches at least 4000 degress wich will burn through u
Logged
 

Offline science_freak101

  • First timers
  • *
  • 1
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #8 on: 05/03/2015 19:50:27 »
I used to powder my aluminum -sliced up soda cans in a ballmill we used for crushing stones. A lot of iron impurities would mix with the aluminum powder. I used a stainless steel mini-pulverizer with better results but it can only do a 100 grams or so at a time. I found some sites online, the most consistent quality was newbielink:http://www.ushalogens.com [nonactive] or  newbielink:http://ushalogens.org/ [nonactive] browse through their chemicals pages for the aluminum and thermite stuff.  [O8)]
We used to mix the aluminum powder with magnetite we sluiced and panned from the rivers. Some of the higher chromite magnetites gave us almost a stainless steel type yield.
Logged
 



Offline SorryDnoodle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 125
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #9 on: 05/03/2015 21:40:28 »
I would't bother trying to make aluminum by your self unless you got either a good workshop or some chemistry experience, I wager that dissolving aluminum sulfate in water and just adding magnesium strips will get you some aluminum, but really if you need large amounts just buy it off ebay along with the rust you need.

Word of advice, try everything in small portions and use a magnesium ribbon to start it from a good enough distance, and be sure that the surrounding area is clear of things capable of burning, and I mean anything.

This stuff is hot, it will turn sand to glass and rock to lava, it will basically melt anything you've got lying around, be smart, be safe.'
Logged
 

Offline kingpanel

  • First timers
  • *
  • 3
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Re: How do I make aluminum powder?
« Reply #10 on: 19/06/2017 07:24:32 »
It is difficult to finely divide fine powder without special equipment. Attempting to crush the ball mill makes it possible to flatten the particles on the flakes. This increases reactivity and burns faster.
« Last Edit: 18/07/2017 07:57:59 by chris »
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

What is "Laughing gas"? Why does laughing gas make you laugh?

Started by paul.frBoard Chemistry

Replies: 7
Views: 50339
Last post 28/06/2020 11:16:38
by Bored chemist
Why do colours add up together to make other colours?

Started by bizerlBoard General Science

Replies: 16
Views: 31199
Last post 28/06/2020 23:52:21
by evan_au
Do sounds add together to make louder sounds?

Started by PhoebeBoard General Science

Replies: 28
Views: 32480
Last post 13/05/2020 00:20:25
by Colin2B
Could Enough Water Make A Water Star?

Started by neilepBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 17
Views: 33714
Last post 17/03/2018 21:01:28
by Recrudesce
Can I make iodine crystals from povidone iodine?

Started by chewwchewwBoard Chemistry

Replies: 14
Views: 55744
Last post 30/09/2018 13:41:19
by Bored chemist
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.15 seconds with 63 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.