Firework ingredients

For about 500 years black powder enjoyed dominance as a propellant, explosive and igniter, and as the major firework ingredient its use remains unsurpassed. The prime reason for the longevity of black powder is its quickness , even at relatively low pressures, and this is brought about by manufacturing techniques (as described earlier) and the chemical reactivity of the constituents. 

To achieve rapid burning - such as in the brightly-colored "stars" used in aerial fireworks and Very pistol cartridges -compositions will contain charcoal or a metallic fuel (usually magnesium). Fine particle sizes will be used, and ah ingredients will be well-mixed to achieve a very homogeneous - and fast burning mixture. 

The oldest and still widely used in pyrotechnics and fireworks "first fire" and "starter" mixture is BkPdr. It belongs to mixts without metallic ingredients. Metallic mixts contain combustible powdered metals, such as Mg, Al, Zr etc. Metalloids B and Si are considered metallic fuels because of their similarity in pyrochemical behavior to metals. Although BkPdrs are described in Vol 2 of Encycl, pp Bl65ff, we are giving here as Table E compns of three formulations used in pyrotechnics, as described by Ellern (Ref 57, p 375)... 

The use of antimony sulfide, Sb2S3, designated in the early writings simply as antimony, along with the saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, which were the standard ingredients of all pyrotechnic compositions, appears to have been introduced in the early part of the seventeenth century. John Bate s Book of Fireworks, 1635, containing information derived from the noted Professors, as Mr. Malthus, Mr. Norton, and the French Authour, Des Recreations Mathematiques, 2 mentions no mixtures which contain antimony. Typical of his mixtures are the following. 

Chemical ingredients of fireworks are chosen to produce specific colors. Barium compounds produce green colors when heated, copper salts produce green and blue flames, sodium salts are yellow in flame, lithium compounds produce red colors, magnesium metal produces brilliant white fight when burned, and strontium compounds produce brilliant red colors. Salts used contain both metallic cations and nonmetallic anions. Anions such as chlorates, perchlorates, and nitrates also contribute oxidizing power to the chemical mixture. 

Uses Main component of rocket and gun propellants, ingredient in initiating compositions to replace lead styphnate in blasting caps, fireworks, flares, and explosives compositions when mixed with TNT, RDX, or HMX. ... 

As Lancaster wrote (Fireworks, Principles and Practice, p.35(l9 2)), there are very few ingredients which produce yellow flames without any storage problem. Ultramarine is, however, one of them and it is suitable for ammonium perchlorate based compositions especially when they contain magnesiura(s. p.219). An experiment showed that there was no degeneration when the composition was stored for two years without raoistureproof containers. Under the same condition NallOa, NazSO/, NaaCaO or cryolite etc. caused degeneration by moisture. The only defect of ultramarine is that the yellow of the flame is rather weak and when it is used for chlorate or perchlorate based compositions, it produces much ash. 

In general many components are used for firework compositions and therefore the ingredients are often confusing to workers. Composition tables must be clearly laid out and the tare be written clearly on the outside of a vessel. When a mixing is finished, weigh the total amount of the mixture and confirm that this equals the sum of the. weight of each component. 

Gun-cotton fuses, for fireworks, 159 Gun-cotton, stability tests for, 74 Gun-powder, for fireworks, 146 for fireworks, Wagner s apparatus fox testing tbie power of, 146 ingredients of, 7 (.Ter a/se Bla Powder)... 

Na-D lines appear in almost all cases because every inorganic substance in firework composition contains sodium compounds as an impurity. The Na-D lines disturb any flame colour except a yellow flame. It may be difficult to obtain perfectly Na-free ingredients, but we must endeavour to get materials with a minimum sodium content. 

If we know the relative mass or the mass percentage of each element in a compound, we can determine the compound s empirical formula. The general procedure is summarized in Study Sheet 9.2, hut before we look at it, let s reason it out using a substance that is sometimes called photophor, an ingredient in signal fires, torpedoes, fireworks, and rodent poison. 

Potassium nitrate (poe-TAS-ee-yum NYE-trate) is transparent, colorless, or white, and may be crystalline or powdery solid. It is odorless with a sharp, cool, salty taste. It is slightly hygroscopic, that is, having a tendency to absorb moisture from the air. Potassium nitrate, more commonly known as saltpeter or niter, has been used by humans for many centuries. Going hack as far as ancient Chinese civilizations, the compound was used as an ingredient in fireworks, to preserve foods, to make incense burn more evenly, to increase the male sex drive, and for magic potions. 

Potassium chlorate is a component of some match heads barium chlorate (see also p 127) Is used in the manufacture of fireworks and explosives sodium chlorate is still a major Ingredient of some weed killers used in commercial agriculture and other... 

Products and Uses Commonly found in agricultural products such as fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. Used in manufacture of fireworks and matches. It is in the freezing mixture ingredients in picnic coolers. 

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