Using red thermit as the first composition

Potassium chlorate or ammonium perchlorate composition has very good ignition. Potassium perchlorate composition also has good ignition, exept a composition which contains shellac. A potassium nitrate composition is very difficult to ignite. 

The above results (1) and (2) are based on systematical experiment with about 140 kinds of varied fundamental compositions. Generally, firework compositions in practice consist of more complex components, and the result might be sometimes different from what has been described above. We can only generalize from the above results. 

For a composition which is difficult to ignite, e.g. a mixture of aluminium and potassium nitrate or barium nitrate, another means of ignition is proposed later (7.2). 

The mechanical actions consist of friction, striking and the sudden compression of the air. Humans have used these methods to obtain fire from ancient times, and they remain in the form of matches, lighters and in the ignition of some internal combustion engines. These principles of creating fire are quite important in pyrotechnics and are described here in some detail. 

Remove the pestle suddenly from the mortar, and a small hot spot may be observed at the edge of the mortar (point p ). If the hot spot is breathed upon, the carbonized wood powder catches the fire. The fire is covered with the powder (charcoal), and preserved well. 

---

Using red thermit as the first composition Ignition by mechanical action... 

---