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Denatured alcohol flammability

Grix

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So I was pointing around my room with my greenie today, and discovered that denatured alcohol fluoresces beautifully when shone at with a greenie. However, I didn't think about the fact that it's flammable..
So what do you think? Can a 150mW greenie ignite liquid denatured alcohol? Is it safe to point a laser at it?
 





Moptsp

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Isn't it transparent? If so, I would think it would be far from "lighting", because most of the light is refracted rather than being absorbed.

-Moptsp
 
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I can't see the liquid alcolol getting hot enough to ignite..
You could test a small amount in a small plastic uncapped
container is a safe area (like outside) and on a nonflammable
surface...
Safety glasses and a Fire Extinguisher would'nt hurt either...IMO

Jerry
 

mfo

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The flash point of Ethyl alcohol is relatively low. However, I don't think alcohol will absorb enough of the heat from the laser to ignite, so you should be good.
 
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mopstp, maybe soke a strip of black paper. and then take jerry's advice? OH ya let me add to jerry's advice.... set the cam to record everything, so as you can post it on LPF. :)
 
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I dont think your laser is going to set it off..... unless you do as i do
1st take you a big beaker or a 5 gal water drum
2nd fill it up with some denatured alcohol
3rd shake up the object
4th drop a sharpied match into the object
5th with your laser and a beam expander or some type of optic system so you are 5-10' away point the laser on the match and watch the cool flames : )

but no denatured alcohol its self will not go ablaze with just a laser shining on it......
 
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I dont think your laser is going to set it off..... unless you do as i do
1st take you a big beaker or a 5 gal water drum
2nd fill it up with some denatured alcohol [ 5 gal?
3rd shake up the object [ it's getting better
4th drop a sharpied match into the object BEST
5th with your laser and a beam expander or some type of optic system so you are 5-10' away point the laser on the match and watch the cool flames : )

but no denatured alcohol its self will not go ablaze with just a laser shining on it......
but you'r on the right track.
 
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Is it me? or is this not the best ideal?.. im thanking No sir.


It could be worse. at least he didn't add the step of sealing the container with the match and alcohol inside..... would make quite a flaming mess out of anything in the area, including the person standing close enough to ignite it.......

I use denatured alcohol frequently. it's not as easy to light as most people think. you see the liquid won't burn, just the vapor, as the alcohol can't dissolve enough oxygen to combust, and underneath the surface the surrounding liquid will act as a rather big heat sink. so any heat absorbed by the alcohol will simply transfer away rapidly. (note: this will cause convection currents in the alcohol to start, so you would see movement if you look closely if there is any heating of the liquid going on. it would look like heat rising off a hot object in the daytime. for similar reasons).

If you DID somehow ignite the alcohol by trying to show off it's florescence, it would simply ignite the surface, which is easily stopped by capping the container, this will snuff the fire almost instantly. However, as the alcohol can't burn anywhere but the surface where the vapors are mixing with the air, it will be impossible to ignite without aiming at the surface and something that could absorb enough heat to ignite it.

StridAst
 
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Yes, it was #2 that i thought might "shake it up" abit.
StridAst did make a good point.
I was thanking more in the likes of the safety part, no splashing it in you'r eye(s) and fire. of corse that kinda is the point but is good for the comman cut and bruse (cooing due to evap) but i'v never found it does a lot of fun when spashed in the eye.


My 10 cent's ( not cheap advice , unless your eye doctor say's otherwise)
 
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Fluids dissipate a lot of heat, as long as you use a medium quantity amount your safe.
Also it's transparent so very safe.

But if your blu-ray can vaporize water, then I would be concerned...
 




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