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Bacon46
March 21st, 2007, 11:38 AM
I was doing some work in a local dry cleaning shop and ran across a 2lb (.9kg) container of Technical grade NaBO3.

It is used a spot stain remover and can be purchased OTC at the dry cleaning supply distributor. I found 81.80% NaBO3 online $2.05 a pound in 8 pound pails at http://www.chemistrystore.com/sodium_perborate.htm

A couple of things I read did make me wonder if it had any use in pyrotechnic or explosive compositions.

1. NaBO3 releases oxygen rapidly at temperatures over 60 °C
2. Unlike percarbonate and perphosphate, perborate is not just an addition compound of peroxide, but contains true peroxygen bonds. This makes the material more stable, safer for handling and storage.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_perborate

It is mentioned briefly in a thread in 2001 titled “Powerful oxidizers & reducing agents.” http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/showthread.php?t=299&highlight=Perborate

There is probably a good reason why I have never seen NaBO3 called for in any pyrotechnic compositions. All I have found is this statement by Ezikiel in the above mentioned thread, “Pot. perborate Oxidizing proberties SUCK.” This could be true but it doesn’t really go on to explain why.

Does anyone out there have any experience with NaBO3 in pyrotechnic or explosive compositions?

cracker
March 21st, 2007, 12:32 PM
Patent #RE 26,1088 mentions its use in a Rubberized Explosive. Use a series of search words including Sodium Perborate,Smoke,Explosive,Composition,pyrotechnic. Enter them into the Google Patent Search and you will get a few hits.