[NewCandle] Getting started with aluminum foil

[Keith Nagel]

Hi All,

Bought a bunch of 25 foot rolls of Fred Meyers aluminum foil
with the intent of doing some initial experiments with
corrosion on large foils. I had some questions about
geometry and reactivity that I think needed to be answered
before I try something larger. So last night I took
one of the rolls and divided it into six pieces.
The first two pieces were folded in half lengthwise,
then rolled one after the other on a 1 inch dia form.
The result is a structure with the fold all at one
end and the open leaves all at the other.

The second two leaves were cut in half lengthwise,
and all rolled one after the other on the same form.
This produced a roll like the first but where the open leaves
are at both ends.

The final roll was done as the first, but with the folded
end crimped with pliers. This roll is pretty close to
what Nick achieves when he cuts a full roll in half. As you
may know from working with foil, if you cut it like that
you end up with an electrical dead short at the end of the roll.

My reactor vessels are quart mason jars of which I have _many_,
some even not being used for the house preserves. The
six inch rolls just fit in, with < 1 inch of headspace.

As weather permits this week I'll load all the jars with
electrolyte and makes some temp measurements. What I am
looking for is rate of temp increase and general reactivity
with the different geometries. If there is no noticable
difference I'll do the simplest thing ( cutting rolls as
Nick has done ) for the larger experiments. 

I was not able to find coated foil. I could use parchment
paper or some other kind of insulating divider; any thoughts
about this?

K.