BP question

[maddmaxx]

Is there any fix to black powder that has gotten wet? Even after it dried, it just pearled and smoked with a lot of fizz, but no flash. I know it gets wet in the making, but don't understand why re-wetting does what it does.  -Or am I trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat?

[John Traveler]

Forget about using BP that has gotten wet.  No good.

BP is a mechanical mixture of carbon, potassium nitrate, and sulfur.

After being thoroughly pulverized and mixed, it's formed into distinct kernels ("granulation") and packaged.  Burning characteristics standardized.

Water dissolves the potassium nitrate and dissperses it.  Mixture no good no more.  Drying out removes most of the water, but the loss of proper mixture and granulation is gone.