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why is sunlight bad for powder?

non mortuusnon mortuus Member Posts: 649 ✭✭✭✭
I've read several times that direct sunlight is bad for powder, keep it in the containers it came in, out of sunlight, etc etc. But why?

Do UV rays damage powder? or is it just the possiable heat build up from being in a sunny spot? or something something else??

Comments

  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    One would think excessive heat is a bad thing.
    Not to mention if powder is exposed to humidity by way of open container.
  • DENWADENWA Member Posts: 390 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    1. UV does degrage just about everything. Especially black objects.

    2. direct sunlight will cause higher heating and then later cooling when sun is gone. ANY moisture in the traped air in canister will condense.

    3. degrade container.
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    non mortuus,

    Powder ignition is a chemical process/reaction called 'rapid oxidation'. Sunlight slowly accelerates chemical reactions. If sunlight and oxygen are present, molecules will slowly start to form without the heat being caused. With enough sunlight and even higher temperatures the powder compound will have slowly released it's energy as these new molecules are created. And, when loaded into a case have degraded down to where you will notice a performance difference between fresh, properly stored powder and stuff that has been left out in the heat/sunlight.
  • non mortuusnon mortuus Member Posts: 649 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by sandwarrior
    non mortuus,

    Powder ignition is a chemical process/reaction called 'rapid oxidation'. Sunlight slowly accelerates chemical reactions. If sunlight and oxygen are present, molecules will slowly start to form without the heat being caused. With enough sunlight and even higher temperatures the powder compound will have slowly released it's energy as these new molecules are created. And, when loaded into a case have degraded down to where you will notice a performance difference between fresh, properly stored powder and stuff that has been left out in the heat/sunlight.

    Thank you for the explaintion [:)] It makes me wonder though, if heat is the problem then wouldn't it make sense to sell powder is containers other than the black plastic currently popular? Or is the dark powder going to absorb lots of heat no matter the color of the container??
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The point of the black containers is to block sunlight. Yes black will absorb heat...but it's not meant to be stored out where sunlight can raise it's temperature.
  • MEMPHISJOEMEMPHISJOE Member Posts: 185 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by DENWA
    1. UV does degrage just about everything. Especially black objects.

    2. direct sunlight will cause higher heating and then later cooling when sun is gone. ANY moisture in the traped air in canister will condense.

    3. degrade container.
    Ref: "any moisture in the trapped air in caister will condense", you will find few substances that are more hygroscopic than smokeless powder, if you have any condensed moisture in a container, your powder is 100% saturated with water and should be disposed of, also you will note how heavy that pound of powder has become, this is just not realistic.
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