Pyrotechnics white light

A1 (powder) 20 and sulfur 18.9% (Ibid p 191) After WWI, most of the research and development in pyrotechnic compositions for the US Army was carried out at Picatinny Arsenal, where the development of white light compositions proceeded along the following lines 1)... 

Antimony is used in many alloys, chiefly for its props of hardening the softer metals, such as Pb. The best known of these alloys are type metal, bearing metal, hard lead and pewter. The powdered Sb is used in some pyrotechnic compns, as a fuel (Ref 9, p 32) and as a source of white light (Refs 3a 8)... 

Uses In tracer powder (P4) and in incendiary shells, also as casing of incendiary bombs.8 For pyrotechnic purposes for the production of dazzling white light and for use in colored fires, for signaling, and for illuminating landing fields, P2,3. 

Pyrotechnic flames always contain some solid or liquid particles, either ejected from the burning surface or as combustion products (smoke). At the temperatures of colored flame, these particles incandesce with near white light, reducing the purity of any colored light produced. 

All this will appear to the layman as rather far-fetched and subordinate to what he regards as pyrotechnics. Light and also sound effects are most intimately connected with the word pyrotechnics. Fireworks high intensity white lights, and colored signals are the best-known and most conspicuous devices, based on the high energy concentration and the allied radiation phenomena in and near the visible part of the spectrum. 

In the following chapters, pyrotechnic light production will for purely practical reasons rather than as a logical arrangement be divided into the creation of white light other than flashes, for military uses with... 

Table 8.8 Examples of pyrotechnic compositions which emit white and coloured light...

Copper-I-chloride forms a white crystalline powder, which is stable in dry air, but tends to turn yellow, green, blue, or brown on exposure to moisture, air, and light. Store dry in airtight amber glass bottles. The dry crystals have a melting point of 430 Celsius. The crystals are relatively insoluble in water, with partial decomposition, but are soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid, and ammonia solutions. Copper-I-chloride can be used in pyrotechnic compositions, for imparting cool effects to the flames. Copper-I-chloride is a very useful catalyst for use in chemistiy. 

Properties Colorless crystals or white powder. Sp. gr. 3.244 at 23°. M. P. 575°. Gives green light on burning. Grade A (99.8 per cent purity) for use in priming compositions. Grade B (99.0 per cent purity) for use in pyrotechnic compositions. 

C. Jennings-White, Blue Strobe Light Pyrotechnic Compositions , Pyrotechnica, XTV, 1992. 

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