Sparks fountains

Wire sparklers are wires coated with pyrotechnic composition which are hand-held and produce a gende spray of gold sparks from iron filings. Fountains are cardboard tubes filled with chemical mixtures that produce a spray of color and sparks extending 2—5 m into the air. Roman candles are cylindrical tubes which repeatedly fire colored stars distances of 5—20 m into the air. These items typically contain 5—12 stars. 

C19-0015. The thermite reaction between aluminum metal and iron oxide is so rapid and exothermic that it generates a fountain of sparks (see photo) and can melt the container in which it takes place. The spontaneity of this reaction suggests the possibility of a galvanic cell involving aluminum and... 

Very hard, steel-gray metal. Hardens platinum. The International Prototype Meter in Paris consists of a Pt-Ir alloy. Its hardness and corrosion resistance is exploited in fountain-pen tips, spark plugs in powerful engines (airplanes), and electrical contacts. Used as a material in shells for nuclide batteries in satellites. Responsible for the iridescent properties of vapor-treated sunglasses. 

Although the compositions used in fountains are usually based on black powder propellant, the sparks that are responsible for the fountain effect originate from other substances within the composition. These substances are known as emitters and it is the physical and chemical properties of the emitters that determine the characteristics of the fountain. Various additives are also used to promote the visual effects or to cheapen the composition. 

A further factor that contributes to the overall appearance of a firework fountain is the brightness of the sparks. As with colour, the brightness is dependent upon the temperature and characteristics of the material used. The brightness of black body radiation varies with temperature as shown in Figure 5.5. 

The fragmentation of sparks has been observed in several metals (including magnesium, aluminium and titanium), and where such fragmentation occurs violently it is termed popcorning as previously mentioned regarding titanium fountains. In order to account for this phenomenon, several mechanisms have been suggested. 

More exotic effects call for more exotic materials, and considerable effort has gone into formulating compositions that are both spectacular in effect and safe to produce and handle. Thus a 30 mm fountain might contain mealed (or hue) gunpowder, potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal, antimony trisulhde, barium nitrate, hue aluminium and flitter aluminium with a dextrin binder. This composition is certainly a good deal more complicated than that used for sparklers but is relatively safe to produce and gives a good burst of white sparks. 

The charcoal, or rather the coated charcoal, contributes to the fountain effect as does the gunpowder and aluminium by processes such as those described above. The flitter aluminium has a rather coarser particle structure than does the fine aluminium so that sparks from the former are longer lived and can survive a greater drop-height. Antimony trisulfide is commonly used to enhance the glittering effect in a series of chemical reactions with the gunpowder and aluminium. 

FOUNTAIN A long, tubular firework from which a jet or spray of sparks issues, sometimes accompanied by stars. 

WATERFALL A hrework assembly consisting of a row of fountains suspended in the inverted position or hred horizontally on a rope such that simultaneous ignition of the fountains produces a cascade of silver (or coloured) sparks. 

Copper is another transition metal that does not corrode easily, which makes it useful for water pipes. Copper is also an excellent conductor of heat, which explains why copper-bottomed cooking pans have been used for centuries. Today, most copper is used in electrical wiring, since it conducts electricity so well and can be stretched into thin shapes. Other transition metals that resist corrosion include platinum, osmium, and iridium. These last two elements are often used in metal pen nibs (the tip of a fountain ink pen) and the tip of spark plugs for cars. 

Iridium oxide, Ir02, is used in the fabrication of thin films for stable electrochromic materials and as an electrode material. Iridium metal is used in the manufacture of fountain pen points, airplane spark plugs, and hypodermic needles, see also Inorganic Chemistry. 

PERSONAL PROTECTION wear impervious protective clothing, including boots, proper gloves, lab coat, apron or coveralls wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus if the exposure limit is exceeded maintain eyewash fountains and quick-drench facilities in immediate work area use non-sparking tools and equipment.. 

Mixtures of Black Powder with titanium, used to produce fountains with white sparks, have not been considered to be particularly dangerous. However, two recent accidents (one fatal) while loading gerbs have caused these mixes to be examined closer. 

Casey Hayes is the director of Engineered Soiiitions at Haws Corporation, located in Sparks, Nevada. He can be reached at (775) 353-8320 or casey hawsco.com. Haws Corporation designs, manufactures and distributes drinking fountains and emergency equipment. For more information on eyewash and eye/face wash products visit www.Hawsco.com or www.AxionEyePod.com. 

TITANIUM SPARKS (See color insert following page 112) A titanium fountain uses relatively coarse titanium particles blended into a moderately fast-burning pyrotechnic composition to produce a beautiful spray of white sparks. This type of fountain effect is widely used in the fireworks industry as well as in theatrical pyrotechnical articles (special effects) for stage presentations. (Photo by Tim Wade and Dennis King, courtesy of MP Associates.)... 

Color compositions can be pressed into tubes to produce flares of varying bum times, or the compositions can be pressed into pellets and fired or expelled into the air. The aerial pellets are referred to as stars, and a large star fired singly is often referred to as a comet. Very small stars are also now widely used in fireworks fountains, where an expelling charge of a black-powder-type composition sprays small microstars into the air to produce spark-type effects of various colors. ... 

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