Fireproof Expanding Graphite

Check out my sponsor Brilliant and use this link for 20% off a premium subscription: brilliant.org/nighthawk - In this video we make intercalated graphite, useful for making graphite foil, graphene, intumescent fire barriers, superconductors, etc.. In addition to this I compare multiple methods of intumescent fire protection to find out if expandable graphite preforms as well as carbon foam.
As a result of my tests in this video: For indoor intumescent fireproofing I recommend using commercially made paints containing ammonium or melamine polyphosphate and pentaerythritol. I have not compared brand names to identify the very best fireproof paint, but several that I believe will provide very good protection are as follows:
- Contego Reactive Fire Barrier
- Firetect WT-102
- Fireguard E84
- Flameoff Fire Barrier Paint
Robert Murray Smith's intercalated graphite playlist: • Graphene Intercalated ...
Thank you to everyone that supports this channel on Patreon! A special thanks to my top patrons: Teague Lasser, Eugene Pakhomov, Evan Hughes, Edward Unthank, and those who have chosen to remain anonymous. Thank you!
/ nighthawkprojects

[@Nighthawkinlight]

In case you missed my video about Starlite which is referenced several times, here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnrFiJSjpcZ4ma8 Thanks for watching!

[@jaysengstacken2118]

PLEASE continue on the negative energy paint.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

@@jaysengstacken2118 Fear not ;)

[@lothre]

Fantastic video. Informative, AND entertaining for sure! Thank you

[@stevenwilliams9359]

"Smaller graphite particles have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, which increases the rate of sulfate ion adsorption on the surface. However, the increased surface area also means that there are more lattice defects on the surface, which can act as barriers to the diffusion of sulfate ions into the interior of the particles. As a result, intercalation of smaller graphite particles typically requires a higher temperature and a longer reaction time in order to overcome these barriers and achieve a complete intercalation. In contrast, larger graphite particles have a lower surface area-to-volume ratio, which decreases the rate of sulfate ion adsorption on the surface. However, the lower surface area also means that there are fewer lattice defects on the surface, which can act as barriers to the diffusion of sulfate ions. As a result, intercalation of larger graphite particles can typically be achieved at a lower temperature and a shorter reaction time." - ChatGPT

[@Nighthawkinlight]

@@stevenwilliams9359 Hmm... Maybe. Seems like this could be a prime example of ChatGPT's overconfidence in its answers

[@jp-um2fr]

I worked for the British Ministry of Defence. I did some crude tests on 'fire retardent foam', the sort that is used in furniture. I was VERY disapointed. Believe it or not wool as in felt was by far the best. So, a challenge for you - find a better fire retardent soft covering / filling better than wool.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Great idea. Wool is really hard to beat.

[@PT0B]

Wool soaked in Borax!

[@ChillyJack]

They sell carbon felt for soft pliable heat shielding behind welding and soldering. It's really effective and super soft to the touch. Can also be used as a wick for burning thicker oils like used cooking oil.

[@pinaz993]

If you want to go the water-containing chemical route, you might try saturating the wool or felt in a solution of water and Epsom salt, aka Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate, then letting the product dry. Each molecule of the salt has 7 water molecules attached, which would make it take quite a bit of energy to heat it up. Epsom salt does decay at high temperatures, but it does so by letting go of water molecules one by one, which might even displace oxygen at the site of the fire. Add in layers of intumescent material, and you might have something that is effectively fireproof. Or, you might not. I'm not a chemist, just someone who's watched a lot of Nile Red.

[@loveblowsbad]

"Dig my credentials, am I retarded or a lier?" Some idiot online... Both, ether, not important. Welcome to the internet.

[@lettersnstuff]

I work in construction, doing telecom, and I’ve used the red putty in the video a good amount. it’s worth mentioning, that the putty has a really different application than the fireproofing paint. we use putty to stop up the sleeves we use if we need to run cable through a wall, or inside an electrical box, for other applications like sealing, they use a caulk that cures hard. the putty, at least to my understanding, only needs to stop smoke getting between rooms, or, say the insulation of your cables catches fire, to stop it using the data network to spread fire throughout the whole building, I’d be interested to see how the putty reacts when heat is applied to it while it’s inside a confined space, pack some into the end of a 1” pipe or something. I dunno if the results would be different, but they might be.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@necroimages]

Are you talking about Chico?

[@wbedard]

This is an great example of the depth of information and excellent presentation that led me to support you on Patreon. I look forward to every video you make. Keep up the great work!

[@musef7883]

Nice video as always. I also was happy seeing a Robert Murray-Smith shout out. He definetly deserves more attention

[@gutsngorrrr]

Great video as ever. I did think this sort of expanding fire putty stuff was put around pipes and electrical systems, allowing them to move, but in the event of a fire, the material expanded filling any gaps and therefore stopping the spread of the fire from room to room.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Yes I have an intumescent collar for a 4" pipe I might test in a short video. That is one purpose that is pretty interesting and useful

[@RealWunderBanana]

Honestly, I know I've said it a couple times, but you are my favorite KZbin channel. You find the coolest things that I have never even heard of or even thought about and make it into a super straight forward, awesome video.

[@millanferende6723]

You might enjoy "Tech Ingridients" as well then. 🙂 But yes, I really like this channels presentation style and clever, relatively simple ideas!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

hiya mate - thank you for the mention in the video - that was a real kindness and well appreciated - all the best - Rob

[@angelusmendez5084]

Robert Murray-Smith's channel is plain awesome 👏

[@101Jgold]

I work with the IBEW and often use various fire proofing products. The important thing to remember about commercial fire proofing is that they all have a time rating. So perhaps the puddy with graphite flakes are good for 1 hour while the carbon foam paint is good for a longer exposure time.

[@trentallen3817]

Hey! Nice another local brother 😂

[@cbuckle5994]

The smaller mesh taking longer may have something to do with surface tension. It may also have something to do with a reduction in the capillary effect. Just a thought.

[@chstoney]

Or smaller flakes have more edge. 4 circles with a diameter of 1 have the same area (and with the same thickness, mass) as one circle with diameter 2, but the four smaller circles have edges with an overall length of 4pi, whereas the bigger circle has an edge with a length of 2pi. And since this reaction happens on the edge of the flakes, more edge means more reaction.

[@mementomori7160]

@@chstoney Oh, just wrote the same, I think this is the reason, for the same amount of flakes it'd be faster for the smaller ones, but for the same amount of mass there is a big difference in their numbers

[@user-cp6nn3my1p]

The reaction happened faster in the larger flakes though?

[@JamesChurchill]

Yeah, if it was just "more edge speeds up the reaction" it would have been obvious and not commented on. The actual result which is reversed implies that the reaction which opens the edge is a lot slower than the intercalation itself, which completes rapidly even if it has to cover a large surface area.

[@absalomdraconis]

Supposing that the opening _is_ the restraining factor, then the reduced number of atoms on the edge may also be a factor: if the intercalation is sufficiently faster, then it would imply that the opening of the edge is dominated by random chance as much as anything else, with the result that "rolling more dice" is the most effective way to speed things up.

[@basher92]

The simplicity of your videos is what schools globally are missing these days............ keep it up hawk! Love the content! Much love from Malaysia!

[@eduardopupucon]

i wish there was an item that blocked skull basher, bkb nothing can stop it

[@cvoisineaddis]

I just want to say I love this channel. It's not always about something I'm interested in but I can tell it's always something Ben was curious about or interested in and wanted to make a video.

[@polloprestigioso]

Man I just love this man so much, so interested in what he's saying, he might do this as a job, but he loves making this videos, I'm 98% sure of it. its been like 8 years watching you, and never got bored. Keep on making these man

[@3nertia]

You never disappoint! I was just looking into graphite as electrodes in electrolysis the other day and then you kindly show me how to make my own :D

[@leiamconway5484]

I am a fire alarm technician. The NEC requires fire putty on any sleeve passing through a firewall. Bearing that in mind it is applied from both sides of the entry and exit point. The small flakes in the fire putty are meant to expand and drive the putty further in towards the center of the wall and also outwards towards the center of the room. Thus it compresses and seals the point from fire being able to penetrate from one side of the wall to the other.

[@mementomori7160]

I think the smaller mesh takes longer because of the reaction first taking place on the edge of the flakes. For the same amount of flakes, yes it'll be faster for the smaller ones, but for the same amount of mass, there will be a lot more small flakes and a lot more molecules that are the working edge

[@dfunited1]

You've never led me astray with channel suggestions! Robert Murray Smith already had my subscription, but I'm sure many others will enjoy his content.

[@mariexichen1136]

Fascinating! I recently started exploring graphite use in refractory and foundry applications. Not sure how expanding graphite applies, but the information, especially graphite foil, is fascinating.

[@yura2424]

This is very interesting and informative. No unnecessary words, everything is on point!

[@colinrobert5492]

Nicely done! A great video to introduce to intercalated graphite. If you want to go a bit further, you can actually produce high quality graphene via the modified Hummer's method, which is just a few steps further. You would need some h2o2 in your water and hydrazine as accelerator, but then make sure that the quantity is small, you have a ice chunks surrounding your Erlenmeyer flask and and extra cover (fume hood is possible). Cleaning and recovering the graphene is the most tedious step, using a roto evaporator and centrifuge at least 4-5 times. Thanks again for the video, it does bring me back 10-12 years, when I was working on nano sensors during my PhD.

[@deathedell215]

the h2o2 would have to be pure otherwise the hydrazine gets mad

[@colinrobert5492]

@@deathedell215 I think you are right, now you mention it. I can't remember if we had any water at all. Mind it was a long time ago. I wouldn't recommend chancing it if you're unsure of what you're doing :)

[@StirlingLighthouse]

You never cease to amaze. Outstanding research and topics. Thank you 🙏 ❤

[@ChefForelle]

Awesome Video! Graphite is a really interesting material. I first learned about its intercallation property a couple of years ago when i was experimenting with dual-carbon intercallation cells as an alternative to traditional battery cells

[@NandR]

So I wonder what your graphite concoction would do in higher concentrations in a paint or as the foil. Just curious. Great video as always can never get enough.

[@markwritt8541]

An interesting video. Nothing wrong with your own paint test not being equal to commercial compounds. Chad move shouting out Robert. As he would point out, discovering an idea doesn't work out isn't really a failure, but gaining knowledge.

[@paulmccoy2908]

Ben that’s fantastic. You have a very accessible educational approach and presentation style and I’m sure that’s why your channel is so successful. Please keep it up. Now do carbon nanotubes.

[@l0I0I0I0]

Yes!!! Nanotubes!!!!!! Yea!

[@gizelle-s]

I'm always excited when one of your videos come out! Keep up the amazing work!

[@miklov]

Excellent video as always! There seem to be lots of interesting further experiments to do with the various practical applications of the expanded graphite, though at the moment I am drawing a blank. But I'll look forward to the next video no matter what the topic may be, keep up the good work!

[@RandallStephens397]

I have a hypothesis about why the finer-grain graphite was more difficult to react: While the stoichiometry is the same (1g coarse graphite, 1g fine graphite), and while reaction rate is typically proportional to surface area, of which the fine-grain has more, in this case, it's the completion of the reaction that we're looking for, and with more surface area to react, it just takes longer (for the same concentration of acid and nitrate). I think of you used more acid and nitrate in proportion to the increased surface area, the reaction would proceed at a rate more similar to the coarse graphite. Would love to see this tested.

[@barcodenosebleed5485]

Kinda along the lines I was thinking. Once you pop open a layer on the coarse grain, it's open. A lot more total layer popping needs to happen with smaller particles.

[@Splarkszter]

Another awesome piece of high quality content clearly made with love and passion. Thank you so much!!!

[@tracybowling1156]

I ALWAYS learn something from your videos. They are ALWAYS so interesting! You are a brilliant man. And you make learning easy. You def have a wonderful way of teaching us and helping us understand the things you're interested in! I'm ALWAYS excited to see another video from you!! Happy Valentine's Day!

[@pulmonary_yoghurt]

Thank you for yet another truly great video. It brings a smile to my face to see high quality content being successful on KZbin. I hope you are doing well. Thank you.

[@maxhammick948]

I wonder if the putty is more designed to rely on the expansion of internal particles? Those might cause the putty to swell a little, allowing it to seal any small gaps that might remain from installation. Mixing in particles will always result in some on the surface (just like a chocolate chip cookie), and these may not add much, but you'd get some particles contained within the putty applying force to it.

[@nicknolte5700]

damn, that was pretty interesting to pounder.

[@grahamking9121]

Intriguing! Thank you for highlighting these facts. I much appreciate your calm, articulate delivery!

[@justinoblanco]

Your videos are always a complete joy. Thanks so much for making them🙂

[@Abeuss]

I’ve been fire caulking/blocking all week. I remember the starlite video. I think we have all tested the fire caulking upon introduction. Surprisingly some fire blocking products will catch for just a second before going out.

[@JamesChurchill]

"Self extinguishing" is commonly used in fireproof materials. They contain chemicals which block combustion, but are locked either mechanically or chemically inside the material until the initial flame releases them. That way the material retains it's flame retardant properties for a long time at normal temperatures even if ordinarily they'd slowly diffuse away.

[@glenngriffon8032]

People laughed at me when I said I had a favorite element. People who understand elements thought I was kind of boring because my favorite element is Carbon. It's been wonderful being vindicated by people seeing just how amazing and versatile this atom is. Makes life, protects your home from fire, makes your written records, strong, powerful, flexible. Good ol Six. Is there anything it cannot do?

[@mattfleming86]

Crazy. I was checking your channel very recently to make sure I hadn't got unsubscribed or missed anything. Nice to see you back!

[@oasisnova]

your one of my favorite youtubers, incredibly underrated, been watching for years, everytime you upload i am inspired by your attention to detail, absolutly timeless.

[@randomname4726]

Very informative and interesting video. I am about to get back into my long lost rocketry hobby and have been thinking about trying a 3D Printed PEEK nozzle with a graphite insert or some sort of carbon based lining. It's a pity the gas flow would rip this stuff right off. I wonder if you could use it as internal heatproofing on the combustion chamber walls. I might try it just to see what happens to it under pressure.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

If you expand the graphite first you could compress it as a lining in the nozzle and it would conform to the walls in the same way it makes a foil

[@randomname4726]

@@Nighthawkinlight Thanks, would I have to bond it to the walls in some way?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

@@randomname4726 I'm not sure, it depends how grippy your nozzle wall is and how hard the graphite is pressed. Probably a rammed clay nozzle would benefit from having some of the expanded graphite included also.

[@randomname4726]

@NightHawkInLight I will have to experiment with it. I've made plenty of little rammed clay nozzles when younger, but now I'm into bigger motors with proper turned nozzles, etc. Last one I made was H class using a convergent/divergent nozzle made from fiberglass & metal reinforced body filler, which I cast into a cylinder and turned down on a wood lathe (no metal lathe unfortunately (yet!)). It worked brilliantly. Now, I want to make a working nozzle for an M class motor (only 32x more powerful, lol), but it will need to be stronger and also survive the exhaust for several seconds.

[@absalomdraconis]

@@randomname4726 : If you have a wood lathe, then you have a light-duty metal lathe. You should look up how to form sheet metal over a mold on a lathe, to see if it would be useful for your projects.

[@killpidone]

Have you tried dumping high voltage to flakes after expansion to make graphene like you did with the coffee grounds?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

For the flash graphene process it doesn't really matter what state the carbon is in beforehand because the intense heat nearly vaporizes it. Using this flake probably would be no different from using coffee grounds or any other carbon source.

[@killpidone]

@@Nighthawkinlight ah didn't know if quality and impurity would be affected.

[@justinbanks2380]

New NighthawkinLight!!! Such a very cool project and deep dive into the topic!! My mind is already spinning with ideas and questions 😁🤯

[@billbrown994]

Thank you sharing your high quality research delivered in such a modest manner.

[@Alba_Longa]

1:00 F-ck me, that's like zit popping video from hell.

[@RichardCranium321]

Robert Murray Smith is amazing... i love his channel & childlike joy with experiments.

[@benjaminmemcic4434]

Oh finally. I missed you man. All of your videos are out of the box thinking and unique content and ideas. Keep up the good work man.

[@bcrawford6115]

The quality of your videography is top notch and the content is outstanding too. Keep up the good work.

[@tmhchacham]

I love the way you get interested and explain things. Thank you!

[@dustinbodie5675]

this was a really cool episode! i enjoyed it and learned a lot. very interesting as are all the applications for it.

[@Jannie303]

Amazing video as usual man. Thanks so much for taking the time

[@MrxEVILCRAZYx]

I haven't seen a video from you since your "How to scramble an egg in its shell," video! Boy oh boy is it nice to be watching such a fun and well put-together video. Thank you for your content brother!

[@glennkrieger]

Very cool and interesting video! You got to love it when the experiment works perfectly.

[@infertilepiggy5667]

Yes boy Rob got a mention, love both your channels been watching for too many years

[@idontknowmyfirstname69]

Oh my... Wow! Thank you for this video! This will be incredibly useful to me. Fr your content is seriously under rated here. You my good sir... Are the man!

[@msmith2961]

Dude, your presentation skills are top notch! 🤙

[@2131560]

nice video. you always have very interesting and educational videos. you are in my top 5 KZbin channels that I love to watch the most. thank you for all the hard work that goes into your videos

[@endertrot9998]

6:50 “Do as you gotta, add acid to water” it’s an old quote, but one that continues to stick with me even though I’m not a chemist. For those unfamiliar, you always pour acid into water and never the other way around, because when pouring water into acid, your likely going to create a steam bubble and splash the stuff into your face, while the other way around is much safer.

[@ChronosCooper]

An absolute must watch for science interested people. Thanks for the Knowledge

[@MarkLawsonY3K]

Murray-Smith is so much fun. He connects and so unique....like you. Sincere Thanks. Lawson

[@sergoogle5061]

Big pre-grats on the 2m sub mark! You sure as hell deserved it. These videos are consistently top tier with some great subject matter throughout. Finding this channel was a blessing in disguise lol

[@2.7petabytes]

You always make such excellent videos Ben! 👍 And I’ve followed Robert for a long time!

[@vallor8322]

I am big fan of Robert Murray-Smith. His heating and electric generation videos are enlightening and easy to grasp.

[@DiyEcoProjects]

Yeay ~ nighthawkinlight video. Have a great year ahead bro

[@lashamartashvili]

Thanks for a very informative and potentially useful video!

[@auselessdigit575]

Reminds me of magic snakes from the joke shop when I was a kid. Little black pellet, you set it alight and it expands into a long 'snake'.

[@PotholesInMyLawn]

you have figured out how to get people to watch the ad read....the cute bird was brilliant ...liked and subscribed

[@WheezardX]

When I see a NHL video drop, it is time for KZbin. Not many channels that I drop what I'm doing to watch. Keep on being excellent!

[@eclsnowman]

Love the shout-out for Roberts channel. Great video as always.

[@weekendstuff]

Always impressed by your ideas and research. Thanks for sharing. Weekend Stuff

[@sarchlalaith8836]

Beautiful to see my three go to science guys mention each other {you, RMS, Tech Ingredients, sorry explosions and fire, Chemiolis and thiosol, love you too}

[@Jarquavious_the_third]

Fantastic video, keep up the good work cant wait for the next one.

[@MDILeon]

I love your videos! Please never stop educating us 🤗

[@simongibbs9392]

Robert Murray Smith is a bloody talented genius been watching that guy for years

[@sebastienlebatteux185]

I love ALL your videos. Super interesting!

[@SuperMattmonkey]

Just wanted to say thank you for the content and the excellent presentation of information that you help to pass on. I loved the one on starlight, all really good. Thank you 🙂

[@felixman9691]

You have been so inspiring and you have shared some truly wonderful info and ideas with me. Thanks to all people like you and Robert Murray smith.

[@derrick4804]

Keep up the great content! You're my favorite science creator on this site

[@biggusb8281]

Another fantastic video, I really enjoyed it :)

[@robbytheremin2443]

I've noticed that a trip down the rabbit hole uncovers things as interesting as the original subject, sometimes even more. 👍

[@nickg5250]

outstanding video as always

[@smcvaymcvay5770]

Amazing and entertaining. Thanks for your hard work.

[@_mrcrypt]

That was really cool! You h e lots of great experiments and projects on this channel. Subscribed! 🐰🍷

[@jugnutree]

Thank you so much sir giving useful information

[@dhirajgupta9802]

I logged in into youtube after months just to comment on your video. wour work is as always brilliant.

[@unvergebeneid]

Those graphite flakes look so pretty!

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

Thanks for giving Robert Murray Smith Channel a shout out. He is the reason I started my journey into electronics and engineering. I love that man.

[@bASICMiner]

Thank you. You have made me smarter. Again. :) Very fascinating content, friend.

[@retiredtom1654]

Well done! I just found your KZbin site, and I will be watching more videos.

[@davidscott5903]

Awesome as usual!

[@MartiniFernando]

awesome video as always

[@ScottSenkeresty]

Fantastic content! And isn't Robert's love and laugh infectious!?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Thanks for the super chat! And yes Robert is certainly fun to watch.

[@treadless_co]

very neat! Thanks for sharing!

[@joemurray8902]

That is so cool! The expanding graphite then rolling it into a foil?!?!?! 🤯

[@joshuajackson6442]

Thank you, I enjoyed this content!

[@ddh3098]

Great share thanks for the information very useful and entertaining 😊

[@puffinjuice]

This is so cool. Thanks for sharing this. I want to use exfoliated graphite for supercapacitor electrodes!

[@_spartan11796]

Fascinating video!

[@sketchpalosotherchannel]

How does he not have 10 million subs yet I love this channel 😭

[@uspockdad6429]

So glad to hear Robert Murray Smith called out here. Both of you guys are my go-to channels to get my science related fix.

[@302ci1968]

Many thanks. Very didactic and useful !