Wool and Black Powder Smoke

[O'Searcaigh]

Wow! This is a great example, I think, of why this sub-forum is appropriate. The chemicals involved here (sulfur, hydrogen and oxygen) are the same involved in producing acid rain, the balanced formula for which is: 2SO₂ + O₂ + 2H₂O => 2H₂SO₄. Given that acid rain is an unfortunate fact of our times, one might expect its affects on woolens to be similar to those encountered by our regimental ancestors? If the black powder of yore was a problem, then perhaps we should stay out the rain too (if another reason was even needed)!

[Spartan Tartan]

Although the sulfuric acid is a product of the sulfer, oxygen and water, do we have sufficient heat/energy to push the chemical reaction to the right? If not, the sulfer dust will have no additional effect over regular dust... That might also explain a lack of acid eating through the wool due to black powder??? Just tossing out ideas...

[Tobus]

Although the sulfuric acid is a product of the sulfer, oxygen and water, do we have sufficient heat/energy to push the chemical reaction to the right?

The reaction that occurs upon firing a black powder weapon (or any combustion, for that matter) is an exothermic oxidation, or burning, reaction. Lots of heat involved. So, yes. The addition of the spark from the striking of the flint (or whatever method is used to ignite the powder) provides the "sufficient heat/energy" to push the chemical reaction to the right.

That said, there's usually a bit of powder that doesn't fully ignite. So the residue from firing black powder will usually be from both sides of the equation.

[O'Searcaigh]

Although the sulfuric acid is a product of the sulfer, oxygen and water, do we have sufficient heat/energy to push the chemical reaction to the right? If not, the sulfer dust will have no additional effect over regular dust... That might also explain a lack of acid eating through the wool due to black powder??? Just tossing out ideas...

Excellent point! As I got to thinking about this (a dangerous thing for me to do), I began to wonder why/if black powder resulted in the production of H₂SO₄ (or any other form of sulfur acid) because the main ingredients of it are potassium nitrate (saltpeter) and charcoal. The sulfur was/is only used to lower the temperature necessary to "spark" the reaction (by increased pressure by a cap or heat spark from a flint). Non-sulfur black powder and "pressure cap firing" was known well within the time-frame of the relevant kilted regiments. The chemical reaction for black powder containing sulfur is:

4KNO₃ + C₇H₄O + 2S => 2K₂S +4CO₂ + 3CO + 2H₂O + 2N₂.

Note that there is no production (at least not directly) of any acid of sulfur here. Also, all the "products" are gasses. If kilts were being messed up in some way, it would seem to have to come either from charcoal or perhaps the potassium nitrate (saltpeter) or just raw sulfur rather than any chemical reaction stemming from them to produce sulfuric acid? If acid is bad for wool kilts (and it might not be -- see Pleater's post above), then kilts may have more to fear from acid rain (see my earlier post) than black powder. My guess is (and it is basically worthless) that spilling a bunch of charcoal powder and potassium nitrate on your kilt will mess it up (require cleaning) as much or more than anything that might be the result of a chemical reaction involving sulfur.

[unixken]

4KNO₃ + C₇H₄O + 2S => 2K₂S +4CO₂ + 3CO + 2H₂O + 2N₂

Dang. I was a Voc-Tech student. Never took chemistry. All I know is that H₂O is water, and K₉P comes from the south end of a dog.

[Germankilter]

I was a American civil war reenactor for several years. We used black powder all the time, about a pound of powder a weekend sometimes more. All wool uniforms. There was color change, but that's called petina. Mostly dirt and camp fire, mixed with sweat and powder. Didn't hurt it at all. I have never washed my wools, just let them air out if they got to smelly.