Wax Smoke Grenades: Complete Trainwreck — But That Compact Smoke Slaps!

See my website for Reusable Smoke Grenade INV-83, The Double Fuse (m-228's0 Kit, and the Wire Pull Ignition Kit. Plus tons of instructions, recipes, links and free info (link in bio)

Formulas:

Tech Ingredients Parrafin Wax Formula (normally a great comp, I suspect i got some fake paraffin wax from Michael's):
-8 p Sugar (granulated and ground)
-12 p Potassium Nitrate (grind separately)
-10. p Parrafin Wax

Thermic Prime Formula:
Potassium Nitrate. 68%
Silicon 15%
Aluminium 40-270mesh 5%
Charcoal, air float 6%
Red Iron Oxide 5%
Boric Acid, powder 1%

Use NC Lacquer, Parlon/acetone, or Cellulose Acetate/acetone to make a slurry as a binder

Doomsday Composition
Note: See " Ignition Formulas and Doomsday Smoke Info" and or "Resin-Bound Composite Smoke Detailed Instructions" they are both Free PDF's on my website.

Ammonium perchlorate— 31.00%
Zinc oxide — 18.00%
Hexachloroethane — 13.00%
Ammonium chloride — 11.00%
PBAN Polymer — 10.00%
2-Part Fast Set Epoxy (WestSystem fast, or Total Boat fast etc) —10%
Sodium Bicarbonate— 4.00%
Sulfur — 2.00%
Iron oxide (red) — 1.00%

**If you appreciate this info, thank me for the description in the comments because it will increase engagement for algo**

Now here's a bunch of AI science fluff on the reaction that was supposed to work but didn't:

The pyrotechnic reaction in this smoke composition—8 parts sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), 12 parts potassium nitrate (KNO₃), and 10 parts paraffin wax (approximated as CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, typically n ≈ 20–40 for waxes)—involves a controlled, exothermic redox process where KNO₃ acts as the oxidizer, supplying oxygen for the combustion of the organic fuels (sucrose and paraffin). Upon ignition, the mixture undergoes deflagration at a moderated rate, producing dense white smoke primarily from aerosolized potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) particulates, along with gaseous byproducts that aid in dispersion.
The core reaction centers on the interaction between KNO₃ and sucrose, which can be represented by the balanced equation:
5 C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + 48 KNO₃ → 24 K₂CO₃ + 36 CO₂ + 55 H₂O + 24 N₂
This stoichiometry reflects a fuel-lean mixture (approximately 62% KNO₃ by mass in the sucrose-KNO₃ portion, aligning with the 8:12 ratio or 40:60 sucrose:KNO₃), promoting incomplete combustion and smoke generation rather than full oxidation to maximize thrust or energy release. The decomposition of KNO₃ provides nascent oxygen, facilitating the breakdown of sucrose into carbonaceous intermediates, which further react to form K₂CO₃ solids (the primary smoke agent), CO₂ gas, water vapor, and nitrogen gas. The reaction is self-sustaining once initiated, with an adiabatic flame temperature around 1200–1500°C, but in practice, heat loss and the composition moderate it to prevent runaway.
Paraffin wax serves dual roles as an additional hydrocarbon fuel and a burn-rate modifier. It integrates into the redox process via partial oxidation, contributing to supplemental CO₂ and H₂O production through reactions akin to:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ + (n + (n+2)/4) O₂ → n CO₂ + ((n+2)/2) H₂O
Here, oxygen is sourced from KNO₃ decomposition (2 KNO₃ → K₂O + N₂ + 2.5 O₂, though integrated into the overall mix). The wax’s higher molecular weight and melting point (around 50–60°C) allow it to melt and encapsulate the reactants during preparation, slowing propagation upon ignition to favor smoldering over rapid burning—transforming what might otherwise behave as a rocket propellant into a sustained smoke emitter. This moderation enhances smoke density by promoting the formation of fine carbon soot and potassium salts via incomplete combustion pathways, such as pyrolysis of hydrocarbons into polycyclic aromatics or char.
Overall, the reaction evolves heat (ΔH ≈ -300 to -500 kJ/mol for analogous nitrate-sugar systems, scaled to the mix), propelling the volatilized particulates outward as a voluminous white plume. Smoke opacity stems from Mie scattering by ~0.1–1 μm K₂CO₃ and carbon particles, with total output depending on confinement and scale, but typically yielding prolonged emission without explosive effects due to the wax’s damping influence.

00:00 Intro
01:56 Test 1
04:08 "As Inert As a Potato"
04:15 Test 2 Brief
07:00 Test 2
07:57 Compact Doomsday Smoke Demo
08:20 Stan Email to ‪@dirty-civilian‬
09:11 Compact Demo Start

#science #experiment #military #civilian #survival ‪@dirty-civilian‬