Manufacturing fireworks

Industrial Explosives Manufacturing Fireworks Manufacturing Defense-Related Products Manufacturing Hydraulic Fuel System Manufacturing Chemical Manufacturing Transportation Services Condo Operations... 

A unit process for manufacturing fireworks is shown quite conveniently by the following simple form of account. 

Workers should put on clean clothes and socks and cut their nails short. Long trousers and long sleeved shirts must be worn. When the workers get used to such clothes, they are not uncomfortable even in summer. These clothes protect worker s skin from unexpected fire, and have saved many lives. Of course, these clothes are not fire resistant and if they do catch fire the flames must be quickly extinguished with water. Incombustible clothes of good quality for manufacturing fireworks have not been discovered yet and are not commonly used, but they may be introduced in the future. Workers should always take a towel in case unexpected injuries occur. Those working with red phosphorous should wear white coats. 

Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing explosives. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing ammunition for small arms are classified in Industry 3482, and those manufacturing fireworks are classified in Industry 2899. 

Sulphur is used in the manufacture of matches and fireworks, as a dust insecticide and for vulcanising rubber. Most of the world supply of sulphur, however, is used for the manufacture of sulphuric acid (p. 296). 

Uses. Phosphoms(V) sulfide is used in the manufacture of lubricating oil additives, insecticides, ore flotation agents, and specialty chemicals. Phosphoms sesquisulfide, P4S2, has been used extensively in the manufacture of stnkeanywhere matches (qv). In addition, small quantities are used in fireworks (see Pyrotechnics). 

Antimony trisulfide is used ia fireworks, ia certain types of matches, as a pigment, and ia the manufacture of mby glass. 

Strontium metal is responsible for the red color in fireworks. Fireworks manufacturers use strontium carbonate, which can be produced by combining strontium metal, graphite (C), and oxygen gas. The formation of one mole of SrC03 releases 1220 X 103 k) of energy. 

The colors of fireworks displays are produced by emission from atomic ions as described in Chapter 7. The explosions of fireworks promote electrons to excited states. The energy level scheme of every element is different, so fireworks manufacturers can change colors by incorporating different elements. Sodium ions emit... 

Uses. Large quantities of Sb metal have been used mainly in alloys with Pb (battery grids) and other metals. Alloys are the predominant use of antimony because its brittleness bars direct use. High purity antimony (>99.999%) has a limited but important application in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. When alloyed with elements of 13th group (IIIA), the III-V compounds are formed these have important applications as infrared devices, diodes and Hall effect devices. Also used for fireworks and thermoelectric piles. 

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was used as a pesticide to protect against fungus and in the manufacture of fireworks, ammunition, and synthetic rubber. This polychlorinated benzene now is foimd in coastal marine sediments. It also bioaccumulates in marine organisms. 

Strontium nitrate [Sr(NOj)j], when burned, produces a bright red flame, and it is used in fireworks. During mihtary combat, it is used to make tracer bullets so that their paths can be tracked at night. Strontium is also used in making specialty metals when alloyed with other metals and in the manufacture of soaps, greases, and similar materials that are resistant to extreme high or low temperatures. 

Its compounds have many practical uses. For example, when the mineral barite is ground up into a fine powder, it can be used as a filler and brightener for writing and computer paper. It is also used (along with zinc sulfide) as a pigment, called lithopone, for white paint. Barium compounds are also used in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, resins, ceramics, rocket fuel, fireworks, insecticides, and fungicides and to refine vegetable oils. 

Cadmium sulfate (CdS), also called orange cadmium, is used to produce phosphors and fluorescent screens. It is also used as a pigment in inks and paints, to color ceramics glazes, in the manufacture of transistors in electronics, photovoltaic cells, and solar cells, and in fireworks. 

Antimony trisulfide TSb " + 3S. Antimony trisulfide is better known as the mineral stib-nite and is used as a yellow paint pigment and in the manufacture of ruby glass, fireworks, and matches. It is also used to make percussion caps that set off explosives. 

Uses. Catalyst for organic reactions lubricating oil additive rat poison manufacture of paper electrodes in fireworks in electroplating in medicine as a radiopaque substance for X-ray diagnosis... 

Uses/Sources. Manufacture of rat poisons for smoke screens gas analysis fireworks in ammunitions such as mortar, artillery shells, and grenades the elemental material is produced as a by-product in the production of phosphate fertilizer it does not occur in the elemental state in nature... 

The history of Pains Fireworks began in about 1593 when John Pain established his business as a gunpowder manufacturer and armourer near Bow Bridge in East London. It is also documented that twelve years later, in 1605, he had the dubious distinction of being the supplier of the one tonne of powder required by Mr Guy Fawkes for reasons mentioned previously ... 

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. 

In firework manufacture the use of gunpowder for priming pressed compositions containing chlorates can also be questioned on the grounds of chemical incompatibility. Sulfuric acid is known to react with chlorates to form chloric acid, HCIO3, which would be avoided by the use of sulfurless gunpowder. 

As with most modern fireworks, the manufacturing process is as automated as possible, with waterproof materials being used in the construction where appropriate. 

First, it must be understood that all fireworks and pyrotechnic compositions are classed as explosives. It is both dangerous and illegal (a) to manufacture gunpowder or pyrotechnic compositions, (b) to assemble such compositions into fireworks, (c) to dismantle (unmake) fireworks or (d) to import fireworks without giving required information to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. 

A welcome addition to the controls imposed by the HSE which relate to the manufacture, keeping, safe conveyance and importation of explosives, including fireworks, is the British Standard BS7114. This standard applies specifically to consumer fireworks and was promulgated in 1988 in order to deal with aspects such as the categorisation, performance testing, quality control and labelling of all types of fireworks. 

On the other hand, fireworks manufactured within the UK were controlled by factory licensing and statutory inspections by the Explosives Inspectors. 

In the absence of any approved official standard, procedures for quality control, overseas manufacture and importation were tenuous to the extent that it was often unclear as to whether some fireworks were suitable for sale to the general public or whether they should be used by a licensed importer or manufacturer. 

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