Detonators, Initiators, Delay Compositions and Heat-Generating Pyrotechnics

1 Detonators, Initiators, Delay Compositions and Heat-Generating Pyrotechnics 

A pyrotechnic composition is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these, as a result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions. Pyrotechnic substances do not rely on oxygen from external sources to sustain the reaction. 

In fireworks, blaekpowder is still used as the first fire. 

Delay compositions are divided into two types gasless (e.g. metal oxides or metal chromates with an elemental fuel) and gassy (e.g. blaekpowder). Gasless delays are used in conditions of confinement (e.g. bombs, grenades, projectiles) or at high altitudes, where it is important that there are no variations of normal, 

A typical delay composition would be BaCr04 (56%), W (32%), KCIO4 (11%), VAAR ( 1 %). 

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