Types of curing agents in solid alcohol

in solid alcohol , such as calcium acetate, nitrocellulose, ethyl carboxyethyl cellulose, higher fatty acids, etc. Among them, the most commonly used is stearic acid. In addition to stearic acid, additives such as sodium hydroxide should also be added.

Stearic acid is acidic, while sodium hydroxide is alkaline, and the two can undergo a neutralization reaction to form sodium stearate.

Sodium stearate is a long-chain polar molecule that is insoluble in ethanol and can be evenly dispersed in ethanol to form a sol. When the temperature drops, the kinetic energy of the colloid particles decreases, the originally dispersed sol becomes unstable, and a large number of colloid particles precipitate. The colloid particles are connected to each other by the van der Waals attraction between molecules to form a network structure.

The alcohol molecules are in the gaps of the network structure and are bound in the gaps of the interconnected three-dimensional network skeleton of sodium stearate. They solidify in a non-flowing state to form solid alcohol. At this time, the colloid is in a gel state.

When the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the colloid particles increases, the movement speed of the molecules increases, the connection between the colloid particles disappears, the network structure no longer exists, the colloid particles are free to move, and it becomes a liquid sol again.

https://www.wickchafingfuel.com/