<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">

<H1>You are viewing with the wrong browser. You need Netscape 2.0 or later.</H1>

Binders

Binders are used to hold the components of some pyrotechnical experiments
together. Some of these binders include:

Dextrin

Shellac

Varius natural gums and resins

The binders often act as fuels for the compositions as well. Most binders can
be bought, and dextrin can be made quite easily. The following procedure worked
well for me:

Preheat an oven to around 220 to 270°C

Spread potato starch on a plate evenly, taking up as much of the surface
area as possible

Place in the oven for about 20 minutes until the top layer of the starch
has turned golden brown, to about the colour of a brown bread roll

Using a fork mix the starch/dextrin mixture until it is uniform in
distribution, breaking up any lumps as you go

Repeat this procedure until all of the powder is of the same colour, that
is, golden brown

You can test the dextrin at any stage of the procedure by taking a small
amount and dissolving it in a small amount of water and adding a drop of iodine
solution. If the powder did not dissolve in the first place, it is not ready,
and if the mixture turns purple after adding the iodine, it is not ready.

It is easy to burn the starch/dextrin while you are making it if you have the
temperature of the oven too high or if you leave it too long without mixing it.
When it burns it forms a discusting black brown mess, which is soluble in water.
I think that this may be a mixture of dextrose (d-glucose) and carbon from the
dextrose which has thermally decomposed, but I am not sure. (If you know please
tell me!)