Important Characteristics of Ingredients for Pyrotechnic Formulations

The knowledge of the important properties of commonly employed oxidizers, fuels, organic and polymeric additives is essential in order to understand their roles in pyrotechnic formulations [5]. The properties of some commonly employed ingredients fuels, oxidizers and organic and polymeric additives are given in Tables 5.2-5.4 respectively. 

Some of the important properties which are considered when choosing the ingredients for pyrotechnic formulations are density, hygroscopicity, melting and boiling points and decomposition temperatures, oxygen content of oxidizers, thermal conductivity of fuels and containers, nature of combustion products and toxicity etc. 

Densities of the fuel, oxidizer and other ingredients decide the densities of formulations. Density of the formulation determines its weight that can be accommodated in a particular volume. The density becomes one of the important criteria in ammunition where specified performance in terms of burning time, delay or luminous output is required in a limited space or column. 

Fuel Density/ gem 3 Melting PointfC Boiling PointfC Heat of combustion/ cal g- Main combustion product M.P. of oxide/°C B.P. of oxide/°C 

Oxidizer Density/ gem 3 Mol. wt Melting PointfC Heat of Decomposition/ kcal mol- Crams of 02 released per g of oxidizer Remarks 

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