Category:Original articles

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

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

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

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

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

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke [Authors’ note: This article includes a number of notes with ancillary information. This information is not essential to the primary purpose of this article. Accordingly, it is suggested that the reader might wish to initially ignore the notes, and then subsequently, if additional information is desired, read any notes of …
Continue reading Pyrotechnic Burn Rate Measurement: Interstitial Flame Spread Rate Testing

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke, Geoff Downs and John Harradine [Authors’ note: This article includes a number of notes with ancillary information. This information is not essential to the primary purpose of this article, and frequently interrupting one’s reading of the main text to read the notes may be a distraction. Accordingly, the reader might …
Continue reading Roman Candle Accident: Comet Characteristics

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke* and Richard C. Dujay ABSTRACT: The morphology (size, shape and surface features) of the constituent particles in a pyrotechnic composition affects its performance. While this is particularly true for high melting point fuels and oxidizers in the composition, to a lesser extent it is also true for those with …
Continue reading Pyrotechnic Particle Morphology—Low Melting Point Oxidizers

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke* and Richard C. Dujay ABSTRACT: The morphology (size, shape and surface features) of the constituent particles in a pyrotechnic composition affects its performance. This is particularly true of metal fuel particles in the composition. Particle morphology can also constitute an important part of forensically establishing a match between materials …
Continue reading Pyrotechnic Particle Morphologies — Metal Fuels

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke  * and M. Williams ABSTRACT: Based on the experience of a small fireworks display company with several low-breaking aerial shells, it was speculated that the cause might be related to having modified the aerial shell ignition system. To evaluate this possibility the effect of various levels of ignition stimuli …
Continue reading Preliminary Study of the Effect of Ignition Stimulus on Aerial Shell Lift Performance