K. L. and B. J. Kosanke In the hope of avoiding a serious accident, earlier issues of Fireworks Business carried a report of the powerfully explosive malfunctions of some tiger-tail comets,[1] and then a brief report of an examination and initial testing of a number of the suspect comets.[2] Since that time, samples from one …
Continue reading Further Report on the Testing of Suspect Tiger-Tail Comets
Author:Avril
Color Values and Spectra of the Principal Emitters in Colored Flames
W. Meyerriecks* and K. L. Kosanke ABSTRACT: The emission spectra of many of the more important emitters in pyrotechnic flames were collected. For this purpose solutions and suspensions of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, barium and copper salts were aspirated into a propane gas flame as the excitation source. Performing instrument corrections and using appropriate data reduction …
Continue reading Color Values and Spectra of the Principal Emitters in Colored Flames
Electric Match Lead
K. L. and B. J. Kosanke This article originally appeared in Fireworks Business, No. 236, 2003. A study of performance characteristics of some common electric matches had been conducted.[1] During the course of that study, a series of electron micrographs were made of the residues produced upon firing the electric matches. Those electric matches using …
Continue reading Electric Match Lead
The Effect of Reflected Blast Waves in HDPE Mortars
K. L. Kosanke and L. T. Weinman A recent article discussed a problem with some comet shells exploding as they were being fired, and thus seriously damaging the HDPE mortars being used.[1] Included in the article were photographs of the two mortars that had been damaged. In these photos, it was clear that, while both …
Continue reading The Effect of Reflected Blast Waves in HDPE Mortars
Report on the Initial Testing of Suspect Tiger Tail Comets
K. L. and B. J. Kosanke It was previously reported that two out of forty 5-inch White Tiger Tail comet shells had explosively malfunctioned upon firing, destroying their mortars and the racks that contained them.[1] While traveling to conduct display safety training, it was arranged to visit the display company that experienced the problem with …
Continue reading Report on the Initial Testing of Suspect Tiger Tail Comets
Flowerpots and Muzzle Breaksd
K. L. and B. J. Kosanke Introduction: Flowerpot and muzzle break are descriptive terms for two types of star shell malfunctions. There can be serious safety consequences from these malfunctions, especially for manually fired displays. Some commonly held beliefs as to the cause of these malfunctions are challenged by the available data. This article summarizes …
Continue reading Flowerpots and Muzzle Breaksd
WARNING: Serious Product Malfunction
K. L. Kosanke In 2003 a fireworks display company experienced two serious malfunctions of a product. The items were 5-inch White Tiger Tail shells under the brand name of Flower Basket (See Figure 1). These shells are spherical in shape and at the time were thought to be solid masses of comet composition, without a …
Continue reading WARNING: Serious Product Malfunction
Characterization of Pyrotechnic Reaction Residue Particles by SEM / EDS
K. L. and B. J. Kosanke and Richard C. Dujay ABSTRACT: Today the most reliable method for detecting gunshot residue is through the combined use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). In recent years, this same methodology is beginning to find use in detecting and characterizing pyrotechnic reaction residue particles (PRRP) …
Continue reading Characterization of Pyrotechnic Reaction Residue Particles by SEM / EDS
Feasibility Study on the Use of Nanoscale Thermites for Lead-Free Electric Matches
Darren L. Naud,* Michael A. Hiskey, Steven F. Son, James R. Busse, and Ken Kosanke ABSTRACT: Electric matches are used in the pyrotechnic industry to electrically initiate devices remotely and with precise timing. Unfortunately, most current commercial electric matches contain lead compounds, which when burned produce lead reaction products that may cause environmental pollution and …
Continue reading Feasibility Study on the Use of Nanoscale Thermites for Lead-Free Electric Matches
Aerial Shell Augmentation Effects
K. L. and B. J. Kosanke This article provides information about a method of augmenting an aerial shell’s aesthetic performance that is simple, high profit and widely appreciated by display sponsors. This method was first discussed many years ago by the authors as part of an article on electrically fired displays.[1] In that article, these …
Continue reading Aerial Shell Augmentation Effects