1.0 KiB
Red Gum
Formula
Mixture of compounds.
Pyrotechnics use
Organic fuel and binder
Synonyms
Description
Red gum, or accaroid resin, is one of the most widely used organic fuels in modern pyrotechnics and is particularly effective with Potassium perchlorate. It is made from the excretions of Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea Genus), native to Australia. Most of the worlds product originates from Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Historically a different resin by the same name has been sold, which was extracted from waste products of the Eucalyptus timber industry. Red gum is soluble in many conventional solvents; alcohols, ethers, and ketones. Ethanol, methanol, acetone, isopropanol and butanone are commonly used in pyrotechnic preperation. It also has use as a binder.
Sources
Red gum may be bought in artistic painting supply stores. It can also be obtained from stores that supply conservators - like shellac, red gum is sometimes used to seal wood surfaces.
Hazards
Red gum is not particularly dangerous or toxic.