I have engaged myself a bit with people that do fireplay for scening on two continents and is trying to understand littlebit more about two liquied used.

 

When I was in northamerica I have seen people use 70% Isopophyl alcohol, refered as something very cheap to buy in any store.
Believe they called it "rubbing alcohol"

 

In Scandinavia where I come from 95% denaturated ethonol is what seems to be used for this purpose , as it is what is avaliable cheap and easy.

 

I have some questions

 

1. Do these liquids have different flame temperature

 

2. Do any of these liquieds burn as "Cool flame"

 

3. Is there any other interesting practical difference between these liquids

Hope for answers

 

Christian Christensen

Sweden

Edited March 21, 201312 yr by ERChristian

It's probably "Isopropyl alcohol".

The other is spelled "(denaturated) Ethanol".

 

Chemically, isopropyl is quite different from ethanol... but what it has in common is that you will burn your fingers on it if you aren't careful. Both do not burn "cool". The heating values of the two differ by about 10%, and can be found here. (Note: isopropyl alcohol is listed as "isopropanol"). To give you an idea: the heating values of both alcohols lie somewhere in between that of gasoline and wood.

 

I have no idea why the two continents have different habits, but I would guess that it has to do with regulations about what you can and cannot sell, or possibly just historic reasons.

Hello Captain Panic

Thanks for the good answers, and excuse for some spelling mistake due to second language.

 

Yes I know it can burn fingers
Yes it is labeled Isopropyl Alcohol here in Sweden, labeled differently in North america , as I remember.

 

In what way will the concentration influence ?
the Isopropyl alcohol comes 70 % out of the bottle, and the denaturated Ethanol comes at 95%.
Will the burning flame differs regarding the different levels of concentration?, or will it just affect the temperature when it ignites to flame ?

Extrapolated question, would would the difference be if both were at same concentration, lets say a low concentration like 50 % ?

 

Again, many thanks for reply and knowhow.

 

Christian Christensen

I'm not sure at all that a 70% concentration burns. Far less so a 50% concentration.