Editing Potassium nitrate (section)

===Other uses===
* Used as an [[electrolyte]] in a [[salt bridge]].
* Active ingredient of [[condensed aerosol fire suppression]] systems. When burned with the [[free radical]]s of a fire's flame, it produces [[potassium carbonate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/upload/R0000245.pdf|title=The evaluation of non-pyrotechnically generated aerosols as fire suppressants|author1=Adam Chattaway|author2=Robert G. Dunster|author3=Ralf Gall|author4=David J. Spring|publisher=United States National Institute of Standards and Technology ([[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]])|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729080813/http://www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/upload/R0000245.pdf|archive-date=2013-07-29}}</ref>
* Works as an aluminium cleaner.
* Component (usually about 98%) of some [[tree stump]] removal products. It accelerates the natural [[decomposition]] of the stump by supplying nitrogen for the [[fungi]] attacking the [[wood]] of the stump.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aces.edu/homegarden/news/archives/003560.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323054236/http://www.aces.edu/homegarden/news/archives/003560.php
| publisher =[[Alabama Cooperative Extension System]]|author=Stan Roark|title=Stump Removal for Homeowners|archive-date=March 23, 2012|date=February 27, 2008}}</ref>
* In [[heat treatment]] of metals as a medium temperature molten salt bath, usually in combination with sodium nitrite. A similar bath is used to produce a durable blue/black finish typically seen on firearms. Its [[oxidizing]] quality, water solubility, and low cost make it an ideal short-term [[rust inhibitor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/6228283|title=Aqueous corrosion inhibitor Note. This patent cites potassium nitrate as a minor constituent in a complex mix. Since rust is an oxidation product, this statement requires justification.|publisher=United States Patent|id=6,228,283|author1=David E. Turcotte|author2=Frances E. Lockwood|date=May 8, 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127195832/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6228283|archive-date=January 27, 2018}}</ref>
* In [[Chemically strengthened glass|glass toughening]]: molten potassium nitrate bath is used to increase glass strength and scratch-resistance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chemical Toughening of Customer Owned Glass - TILSE Yacht Glazing |url=https://www.tilse.com/chemical-toughening/#:~:text=The%20glass%20is%20submerged%20in,+)%20from%20the%20salt%20bath. |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=TILSE GmbH |language=en}}</ref>
* To induce flowering of [[mango]] trees in the Philippines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2008/03/article_0001.html|title=The Scientist, the Patent and the Mangoes – Tripling the Mango Yield in the Philippines|publisher=United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization ([[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]])|work=WIPO Magazine|author=Elizabeth March| date=June 2008|archive-date=25 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825204717/http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2008/03/article_0001.html| url-status =live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.searca.org/searca/index.php/news/723-filipino-scientist-garners-2011-dioscoro-l-umali-award|title=Filipino scientist garners 2011 Dioscoro L. Umali Award
| publisher =Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture ([[Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture|SEARCA]])
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111130182054/http://beta.searca.org/searca/index.php/news/723-filipino-scientist-garners-2011-dioscoro-l-umali-award|archive-date=30 November 2011}}</ref>
* Thermal storage medium in [[power generation]] systems. Sodium and potassium nitrate salts are stored in a molten state with the [[solar energy]] collected by the [[heliostat]]s at the [[Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant]]. [[wikt:ternary|Ternary]] [[Salt (chemistry)|salts]], with the addition of [[calcium nitrate]] or [[lithium nitrate]], have been found to improve the heat storage capacity in the molten salts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.estelasolar.eu/fileadmin/ESTELAdocs/documents/powerplants/Gemasolar/Gemasolar_Torresol.pdf|title=Gemasolar, The First Tower Thermosolar Commercial Plant With Molten Salt Storage System|author1=Juan Ignacio Burgaleta|author2=Santiago Arias|author3=Diego Ramirez|publisher=[[Torresol Energy]]|access-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309085029/http://www.estelasolar.eu/fileadmin/ESTELAdocs/documents/powerplants/Gemasolar/Gemasolar_Torresol.pdf|archive-date=9 March 2012|type=Press Release|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* As a source of potassium ions for exchange with sodium ions in [[chemically strengthened glass]].
* As an oxidizer in model rocket fuel called [[Rocket candy]].
* As a constituent in homemade [[smoke bomb]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Make the Ultimate Colored Smoke Bomb |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/ultimate-colored-smoke-bomb-605967 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=ThoughtCo |language=en}}</ref>