ALCOHOLS - BURNING GELS IN COLORFUL FLAMES, WITH PROTECTIVE GUARDS.

Abstract

Alcools-gels gainés d'une enveloppe cellulosique de type "charcuterie industrielle", éventuellement protégés par léger grillage ou tamis, permettant de les disposer selon une forme graphique voulue ou de les tendre entre deux éléments porteurs. Ces alcools-gels verront leurs flammes colorées par l'ajout avant et (ou) pendant le processus de gélification de sels métalliques appropriés. La gélification se fera de préférence par introduction d'un éther cellulosique de type méthylcellulose hydroxypropylée en granulés et l'épaississement du ou des solvants organiques se fera par agitation. On augmentera la combustion des gels en ajoutant des chlorates ou, de préférence, des perchlorates.

Description

Alcohol gels coated with a cellulose-based coating of the type used in industrial meat processing, possibly protected by a light mesh or sieve, allowing them to be arranged in a desired graphic shape or stretched between two supporting elements. The flames of these alcohol gels will be colored by the addition of appropriate metallic salts before and / or during the gelation process. Gelation will preferably be achieved by introducing a cellulose ether of the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose type in granules, and the thickening of the organic solvent(s) will be accomplished by stirring. The combustion of the gels will be increased by adding chlorates or, preferably, perchlorates. The products thus obtained can be compared to elastic and flexible Bengal lights in use, that is to say, allowing the reproduction of all texts, symbols, logos, drawings, ideograms and graphics. Organic alcohols and polymers here replace hexamethylene tetramine (or any other solid fuel), present with salts and perchlorates, in said Bengal fires. It should be noted that the overall viscosity of the product obtained depends on the amount of cellulosic ether (or any other solvent gelling agent), once the nominal viscosity has reached its end, close to 24 hours. The denser the viscosity, the more efficient the mixed perchlorate will be during combustion. Let us take the example of blue and red in the entire process and we will understand that these two examples, intended to illustrate the process, are in no way limiting. 1- Mix one liter of methanol (preferably methanol or any other solvent) with, for the red color of the flames, 5 to 10% lithium chloride and 2 to 4% strontium chloride. Once the solution is perfectly obtained, add 2 to 10% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose granules and stir at approximately 20 rpm until a gel forms. Then add 10 to 50% potassium perchlorate, preferably ground and mixed with 2 to 5% of the amount of perchlorate, strontium chloride, and approximately 2 to 3 times this proportion of lithium chloride. This represents an industrially economical solution, but it is preferable and advocated here to replace these last three elements with the same quantity of lithium perchlorate. Mix everything into the gel, preferably before an hour has elapsed, before the gelling of said gel. 2- To obtain blue flames, the same process is followed, replacing lithium and strontium with copper oxides or chlorides. However, before gelation, 5 to 15% by weight of a halogenated hydrocarbon (preferably dichloroethane) is added. After the gel has set, a copper oxide or chloride, previously soaked in dichloroethane and then dried by evaporation, is added along with the perchlorate. All of these mixtures will be made as homogeneous as possible. The sheathing of the product thus obtained with a cellulose envelope will preferably be done with an industrial automatic, stainless steel twisting machine before the use of the final protective element of the whole. This can take two forms: a- A metal sieve of the "pantry mesh" type or a braiding of fine metal wires. b- A sheath with a very open density of silico-aluminous ceramic fibers, preferably reinforced with metallic wires.

Claims

DEMANDS 1) A process for gelling alcohol-type solvents, allowing colored flames, characterized in that the sheathing of the gel obtained by a preferably cellulosic envelope allows sealing, as well as a metallic sieve or light wire mesh or over-sheathing of preferably reinforced ceramic fibers, protects the whole, allows chosen shapes and solid fixing between supports before combustion. 2) Coated alcohol-gels according to claim 1, characterized in that before, during, or even after gelation, metallic salts are added in solution or suspension to color the flames obtained. 3) Coated alcohol-gels according to claim 1, and coloured according to claim 2, characterized in that, during the gelation process, and after a certain viscosity has been obtained, chlorates and especially, preferably, perchlorates are added, the proportion of which will be defined by the desired duration and intensity of combustion. 4) Perchlorate composition during gelation according to claims 1 & 3, characterized in that the perchlorates of the salt chosen for its color are preferable to potassium perchlorate, or even ammonium perchlorate, to which chlorides, oxides, hydroxides, etc., of the salt(s) considered are added. 5) Composition enabling blue coloring, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a true blue can only be obtained by adding a halogenated hydrocarbon to the oxides, chlorides, etc. of copper, either in liquid form or in evaporated liquid form.