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Author Topic: Charcoal Quality  (Read 2732 times)

Dave Faletti

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Charcoal Quality
« on: September 15, 2010, 06:31:45 AM »
How does a modern powder manufacturer determine the quality of their charcoal?  Purity of the Sulfur and Nitrate in powder can be measured.  What kind of inspection or measurements are done on charcoal.    Just curious.
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Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: Charcoal Quality
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2010, 09:05:07 AM »
If it were me I would burn a small measured(weighed) quantity in a closed system to determine BTU content by temperature rise generated.  Since the carbon is the fuel getting a high energy content makes the difference.   
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Offline Mad Monk

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Re: Charcoal Quality
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2010, 09:56:24 PM »
Quote from: Dave Faletti on September 15, 2010, 06:31:45 AM
How does a modern powder manufacturer determine the quality of their charcoal?  Purity of the Sulfur and Nitrate in powder can be measured.  What kind of inspection or measurements are done on charcoal.    Just curious.

Most do not check it.  They will sometimes run a "fixed carbon" content on charcoal arriving at the plant.  In the case of the Swiss powder maker they make their charcoal in-house so there is no question of variation in "quality".

The subject of charcoal properties for particular types of black powder is rather complex.  Wood itself is complex which carries over into charcoal destined for use in black powder.

E. Ogre
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