kelvinmead Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Hi, I'm on a thought process and I wondered if you light guys would have some inside information. I wondering how long smoke takes to dispense inside a closed environment. For instance, if I was to fill a latex balloon with smoke, how long would it take to dissipate / co-agulate / return to liquid? Is this process slowed down by heat / cold? Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 It wouldn't return to it's previous state, because the heating element of changing it from fluid to gas isn't reversible in this sort of situation. It's not like water changing to steam then condensing (not 'coagulating') back into water again. I don't have the answer to what would happen to the smoke inside a balloon (and my guess is that you'd have a devil of a job filling a balloon with smoke to even try it!) but my guess would maybe be some sort of residue after time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvinmead Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 I'll have to try It out with a Tupperware box I guess! I'm not intending to fill balloons with, but if you cOuld that would be an awesome balloon drop! Hmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard CSL Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I remember seeing a smoke machine behind a bubble machine effect once , that was pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenalien Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 If you're making your smoke from fog fluid, it comes in various grades, which give different densities. The length of time fog lasts in the air is known as its 'hang time'. Generally, the denser the fog, the longer its hang time - and the more expensive the fog fluid, because it has more of the active ingredient - usually propylene glycol - and less water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 [PEDANT] Smoke machines don't make smoke. Smoke is a by-product of combustion. [/PEDANT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvinmead Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 I'll be sure to specify combustion machine on my next eBay search... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baldwin Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Brian's pedantry is hardly misplaced. Smoke is a mix of hot gases and particulates created during combustion. Chemical change is happening, and the particulates won't spontaneously rearrange themselves back into the original material. Nor, for that matter, will some of the gases created condense again at room temperature. Glycol-based fog/ haze is a suspension of tiny liquid droplets, of the same chemical composition as the original fluid*. Physical change happens to get from the bulk liquid to this haze, and with the right temperature conditions in a controlled volume, you might well collect some of the fluid back again. Contaminated with airborne particles of course. * provided the heating element isn't running too hot, in which case you'll get some decomposition products in the airborne output, which may include particulates (if the fluid is getting charred). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slipstream Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 I suspect the answer is not very long - if you have ever tried to duct smoke from a machine - it "condenses" onto the sides of the tube quite easily - and I guess the same will apply in a closed space - the super fine particles from a cracker may last longer but they are not very visual as smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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