Pyrodex in block form--how do they do that?

[newdude]

So, lately i have been wondering about powder related stuff, and i started to think about black powder/synthetic BP like stuff. I was wondering if anyone knows how companies like Pyrodex make their BP into blocks...? And keep it burning somewhat similar to the granular stuff? Do they use some sort of highly flamable glue?

Just curious, and thanks,

neal

 

[gvnwst]

Well, i don't know, but this sounds intresing........

 

[TexasRifleman]

I've heard it compared more to the model rocket engines from Estes than black powder, and supposedly they leave behind as much as 50% of their weight in unburned "stuff", whatever that stuff is so there must be some inert glue holding them together.

 

[Gun Slinger]

Binders.

 

[husker]

i shot pyrodex 30 grain pellets for the first time and last time yesterday. first 6 shoots were fine. loaded the cyl up again and three out of six didnt go off. so i put new caps on. and one went off but it was a bad hang fire. when it came time to clean i pulled the remaining 2 balls out. and i noticed how sticky the the fowling was. nasty crap.ill stick to powder.

 

[newdude]

I've heard it compared more to the model rocket engines from Estes than black powder, and supposedly they leave behind as much as 50% of their weight in unburned "stuff", whatever that stuff is so there must be some inert glue holding them together.

Why would they use intert glue, instead of a burning stuff? I would not want the unburnt crap in my barrel...!
Thanks for the replies.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Should have posted this before, a long article on the things.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/difference_black_powders.htm

 

[benEzra]

supposedly they leave behind as much as 50% of their weight in unburned "stuff", whatever that stuff is so there must be some inert glue holding them together.

It's not glue, just the nature of black-powder and black-powder-substitute combustion. The combustion products are 50% gas and 50% solids (finely dispersed solids accounting for all the smoke).

From the excellent article TexasRifleman posted:

Black powder is horribly inefficient, as only about 50% of its mass turns into gas. The rest is solid residue that is forced out the muzzle as white smoke or left in the bore as corrosive fouling crud.

 

[newdude]

So, they do use a burning "glue" or whatever? But then there is this quote from the artical:

Where Pyrodex pellets are pressed into shape from black powder and Pyrodex RS, Triple Seven pellets are made from straight Triple Seven, and are harder to ignite.

Maybe they just press it? Hmm...intresting.

Thanks for the link TexasRifleman, very informative.

 

[Funderb]

more than likely they wont use binder, except maybe water.
but I bet it is just compressed.