Guano, Brimstone, and Soot

(AKA Black Powder related research)

Guano: the excrement of seabirds and bats, used as source of potassium nitrate.

Brimstone: Archaic name for sulfur.

Soot: Black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.

Some useful links:

Link (URL)	Description
Quick & Easy Black Powder Ball Mill	https://www.skylighter.com/blogs/how-to-make-fireworks/quick-easy-black-powder-ball-mill
Making Black Powder with a Ball Mill	https://www.skylighter.com/blogs/how-to-make-fireworks/black-powder-with-a-ball-mill

Traditional black powder formula

The traditional black powder formula typically consists of:

75% potassium nitrate (KNO₃),
15% charcoal, and
10% sulfur by weight

Incorporating 5% dextrin as a binder

When incorporating 5% dextrin as a binder, the dextrin percentage is calculated as part of the total weight.

Here's the adjusted formula:

Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃): 71.25%
Charcoal: 14.25%
Sulfur: 9.50%
Dextrin: 5.00%

To derive these percentages, the original components are scaled down to accommodate the added 5% dextrin.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the calculation:

Total base percentage (without dextrin): 100%
Remaining percentage for original components: 100% - 5% dextrin = 95%

Adjusted percentages:

Potassium nitrate: 75% of 95% = 71.25%
Charcoal: 15% of 95% = 4.25%
Sulfur: 10% of 95% = 9.50%

Thus, the formula with 5% dextrin added by weight is:

71.25% potassium nitrate (KNO₃)
14.25% charcoal
9.50% sulfur
5.00% dextrin