Flashing composition

Group 1 Chlorate and metal perchlorate report or whistling compositions Dry non-gelatinized cellulose nitrates Barium peroxide/zirconium compositions Burn very violently Flash shells (maroons) Casings containing flash compositions Sealed hail-preventing rockets Mass explosion risk... 

Large firework shells without flash compositions in transport packagings... 

Photo flash Compositions. Workers at PicArsn have investigated a series of mixts of K perchlorate with powd metals for use as photoflash compns. Info on candlepower, time to peak luminosity, and duration of flash, as well as performance at sea level and 1 x 10s feet, are given for each compn (Ref 23). A standard mil photo flash compn is given as 40% atomized Al, 30% Ba nitrate, and 30% K perchlorate (Ref 22, P 274)... 

Flares. A flare compn is described in Refs 15 16 contg powd Mg, Na perchlorate, and a binder which can be cast and cured, and which has a luminous intensity of 50,500 candle-secs/g Incendiaries. A mixt of 1 OOg of Na perchlorate and 58.7g of powd Al has a Qr of 2751cal/g and can be used as a filler for incendiary bombs (Ref 6). A proc is described in Ref 14 for coating Na perchlorate with Al, and the use of the coated material in incendiaries Photo flash Compositions. Mixts of 80% Ca metal and 20% Na perchlorate and 80% Ca, 10% Na perchlorate, and 10% Na nitrate have been examined as expl photoflash compns for both sea level and high altitude use (Ref 13) Refs 1) Gmelin, System No 21 (1928), 408 Supp Part 1 (1964), 180 2) H.H. Willard ... 

Signal ammunition without flash compositions, s40g of composition Small fireworks, fuse protected (except volcanoes and silver wheels)... 

A bridge of resistance wire is connected across the ends of two leading wires and surrounded by a loose charge of flashing composition or of initiating explosive. 

The leading wires are attached to a fusehead, originally a separate entity and containing a bridgewire surrounded by coatings of flashing composition. 

A number of these combs are fixed side by side with spacers in a carrying plate. The tips of the combs are then dipped into a solution of paint-like consistency containing flashing compositions to be described... 

The first dip given to a fusehead is known as the flashing composition and is of particular importance. Originally copper acetylide was used for this purpose, but it has been superseded by more stable materials. Three common compositions are based on lead picrate, lead mononitroresorcinate and a mixture of charcoal and potassium chlorate respectively. These materials are suspended in a solution of nitrocellulose in amyl acetate and amyl alcohol, known as Zapon. One or more dips, with intermediate drying, give a layer of suitable thickness. 

When a thunderflash effect is required, a square of touch-paper is placed on the rear propellant surface inside the case at the opposite end to the choke, and a hairpin of safety fuse is placed inside the case in contact with the square of touch-paper. Some flash composition, based on potassium perchlorate, barium nitrate and aluminium, is then poured around the safety fuse and the head of the case is closed off with a pressing of clay or by simply being taped over. The all-important stick is... 

However, a word of caution is needed here because some of the best flashes and bangs are the results of the careful use of some quite powerful and hazardous compositions. For example, the maroon that is often used to signal the start or hnish of a hreworks display is loaded with a flash composition containing oxidisers and metallic fuels that must be mixed using remote-controlled machinery. 

Flash composition-lined smokeless propint loaded cartridge shells 6 F76—F77... 

Casings containing flash compositions Sealed hail-preventing rockets... 

In Germany U.Krone and F.-W.Wasmann suggested that a twinkler composition consists of two kinds of compositions mixed with each other, i.e. a smoulder composition and a flash composition(F.-W. Wasmann Festtreibstoffe mit pulsierenden Abbrand, Explosivestoffe, page 1, Heft 1, Januar/Februar... 

Flash charges are also used to indicate the point of impact of practice bombs and of small caliber spotting rounds shot from a small arms weapon with a trajectory identical to that of a larger gun. Formerly, black powder was used for such purposes, fM oviding both flash and smoke. Nowadays, a zirconium-based flash composition of 1.5 million... 

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