From: '''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk   
      
   On 04/05/2023 21:17, dlzc wrote:   
   > On Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 12:43:22 PM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:   
   >> I think it might be down to simple physics and also why many liquids   
   >> with lowish vapour pressure are difficult to ignite without a wick.   
   >>   
   >> That candle made of sucrose sounds like an interesting test if slightly   
   >> dangerous from a point of view of working with very hot concentrated   
   >> sucrose solution ~120C and some ordinary candle wick to make a sugar   
   >> candle by dipping.   
   >>   
   >> Basically a lead washer on the end of a piece of wick dipped into a tall   
   >> container of hot concentrated sugar solution a la jam making. Allowed to   
   >> cool and keep going until you have a candle of sucrose. My betting is it   
   >> will burn with a rather dirty flame but that it will work OK.   
   >>   
   >> The problem otherwise is that the molten/dissolved in its own water of   
   >> crystalisation sugar is a very good conductor of heat and so there is   
   >> always some more sugar to dissolve/melt at the interface. The wick   
   >> provides a location that is thermally isolated from the bulk liquid   
   >> where it can get hot enough for ignition and then away we go.   
   >>   
   >> Do let us know if you manage this feat!   
   >   
   > Not exactly the same but isn't "sugar rock candy" often found on a string a   
   suitable starting point?   
      
   Possibly. I don't think I have ever seen any. Not a UK thing.   
      
   UK "Seaside Rock" is a solid cylinder of mint flavoured white caramel   
   candy with a brightly coloured thin layer on the outside and the name of   
   the resort spelt around the perimeter in red. No wick down the middle.   
      
   Fairground Candy floss which comes on a stick strikes me as something   
   that will probably burn impressively well with or without a catalyst.   
   (hence refuting the need for a catalyst for it to burn)   
      
   Much the same way as wire wool burns whilst bulk iron does not.   
      
   My instinct is that it just needs to get hot enough to ignite...   
   (and have enough surface area to sustain the reaction)   
      
   --   
   Martin Brown   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)