Powder with chlorine smell?

[Dusty Stevens]

several of my 1lb jugs of various powders that have been opened have a sweet almost chlorine bleach type smell now- what gives? Also some of my metal lid imr 1lb jugs have rust on the lid like a fuzzy dust. When i moved they came out of my shop just fine but 6mo later this is going on. They have been in boxes in my house. Im talking 50+ jugs here its not just half a pound i could dump. No 8lb jugs were affected

 

[retired]

rust is moisture and metal...not powder, tho the moisture may have come from the powder.
have you noticed all most all powder today is in plastic and double sealed lids..to keep metal away from the moisture in the powder.
my guess is you have changed the "environment" of storage leading to moisture release and rust.

no clue on the chlorine smell

 

[odie]

several of my 1lb jugs of various powders that have been opened have a sweet almost chlorine bleach type smell now- what gives? Also some of my metal lid imr 1lb jugs have rust on the lid like a fuzzy dust. When i moved they came out of my shop just fine but 6mo later this is going on. They have been in boxes in my house. Im talking 50+ jugs here its not just half a pound i could dump. No 8lb jugs were affected

I am curious to. Only I had a #8 jug of H5010, that was in the back of my powder magazine , do something similar. The jugs lid had been eaten away and a tar like substance boiled over the outside of the jug. It caused rusty corrosion on some of the other cans of powder to. Learned a lesson to every 6 months to inspect my powder magazine.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Sure you're not smelling diethylether? That's a somewhat sweetish smell. I get it in all the powders I use, it's used as part of the manufacturing process and the residual smell is quite strong. However, I don't see how it could be mistaken for chlorine, so maybe yours is something totally different.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Sure you're not smelling diethylether? That's a somewhat sweetish smell. I get it in all the powders I use, it's used as part of the manufacturing process and the residual smell is quite strong. However, I don't see how it could be mistaken for chlorine, so maybe yours is something totally different.

I have no idea. It hits hard like ammonia but seems more like chlorine but its sure hard to tell. The 8lb jugs that were open do not smell the same even though some were in the same box.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I just pulled some cans out and i found a can of xmr3100 that was one clump and the label was faded badly like it was in the sun for years. It was a bit less than half full

 

[Ned Ludd]

My concern would be that you're smelling some breakdown product of a chlorinated hydrocarbon. If so, it might suggest the constituent compounds in the powder have broken down over time. The smells that come out of containers holding organic compounds can change over time as the compounds change chemical composition (degrade).

I've never looked very carefully at an MSDS from smokeless powder, so I don't know all the constituents various powders contain. Nonetheless, I'd check carefully as to what is actually in the containers before actually using any of it to reload. For example, how does a small amount of it burn? Once the lid has been open, does the smell dissipate? Does it come back strongly after the lid has been closed again for a while? Does a new container of the same powder have a similar smell?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

My concern would be that you're smelling some breakdown product of a chlorinated hydrocarbon. If so, it might suggest the constituent compounds in the powder have broken down over time. The smells that come out of containers holding organic compounds can change over time as the compounds change chemical composition (degrade).

I've never looked very carefully at an MSDS from smokeless powder, so I don't know all the constituents various powders contain. Nonetheless, I'd check carefully as to what is actually in the containers before actually using any of it to reload. For example, how does a small amount of it burn? Once the lid has been open, does the smell dissipate? Does it come back strongly after the lid has been closed again for a while? Does a new container of the same powder have a similar smell?

A new unopened container does not have the smell. I have two open in my garage right now. Tomorrow ill see if the smell is gone. If so ill put the lid back on one and see if it comes back. I havent tried the burn test been a little busy tonite

 

[Ned Ludd]

If the smell goes away, or doesn't come back nearly as strong, it might only be a minor breakdown component that accumulated over time. If it does come back, clearly you've got something in there different than is in a new container, which is worrisome. It might not be any issue at all, but then again, it might be.

 

[JohnKielly]

I read just this week that the chlorine smell in swimming pools is caused by urine changing the pool protective chemical's composition.

You don't by any chance have a dog?

 

[JimSC]

any change in the smell would indicate a breakdown in the chemical composition of the powder, I would bite the bullet and dispose of any powder with any questionable odor or discoloration. It is cheaper than reconstructive surgery.

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/reloading/how-to-determine-gunpowder-shelf-life/

edit at the very least the burn rates for that powder has been altered. been working with machinery etc for over 50 years and things just do not "fix" themselves. Even if the smell goes away that powders chemical makeup has changed

 

[swadiver]

Speaking of awful smells, i just started using Accurate LT-32. shoots great, but smells awful, worst than any other powder i have. what's in it that contributes to the terrible smell?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Speaking of awful smells, i just started using Accurate LT-32. shoots great, but smells awful, worst than any other powder i have. what's in it that contributes to the terrible smell?

Its the lucky dust

 

[ClassCat]

GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP NOW ! Powder will self combust. The same happened to L.Bruno. G I powder, took the corner of the house out.

 

[ClassCat]

Acetone smell is common.The military and some larger companies store powder in pools and tanks with the powder and water. When they dry they run 95% of the water off and rinse in acetone.

 

[seymour fish]

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It’s gone. Toss it. What humidity in your house ? Lids on air-tight ?

 

[Steve morgan]

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Dusty I had the same thing happen to some old powder. It is deterated and dangerous to keep.

 

[243winxb]

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=292281&page=2 I had Imr 4895 and 4198 rust the old metal can. Red dust was in the powders. The 4198 shot fine. The 4895 looked ok, but i scrapped it.

 

[243winxb]

#8 jug of H5010,

There was a gi surplus powder that caught fire all by its self. This one , if i remember correctly?

Stop smelling it.

http://www.firearmsid.com/Feature Articles/McCord_gunpowder/