Category:Original articles

K.L. and B.J Kosanke ABSTRACT: It had been speculated that the replacement of fierce burning quick match shell leaders with electric matches might have contributed to the production of a significant number of low breaking aerial shells experienced by a small fireworks display company. A preliminary study of the effect of ignition stimulus level did …
Continue reading The Effect of Ignition Stimulus on Aerial Shell Lift Performance

K.L. and B.J Kosanke ABSTRACT: In many electrically discharged fireworks displays, it is a common practice to securely attach the electric match leg wires to both the aerial shell and to the firing mortar or mortar rack. When this is the case, it is necessary for the aerial shell to sever the attachment to the …
Continue reading Study on the Effect of Leg Wire Attachment on the Height Attained by Aerial Shells

K.L. and B.J Kosanke Introduction: Over the past 25 years, the percentage of spherical aerial shells that fall to the ground as duds after firing has substantially decreased. (This is especially true for shells from China.) Obviously this is a good thing, and it is a result of such things as improvements in the quality …
Continue reading Floating Dud Aerial Shells

K.L. and B.J Kosanke Recently, while in the United Kingdom and between teaching pyro-chemistry short courses, we took a side trip to visit the restored Chart gunpowder mill. This is the only restored mill from what was once a collection of approximately ten powder mills near the town of Faversham in Kent county. When operating …
Continue reading Faversham’s Gunpowder Mills

K.L. and B.J Kosanke After the 1999 PGI convention, the authors were told about a type of quick match that had been sold at the convention and which was suspected of being made using a chlorate oxidizer. The individual’s suspicion was based on his perception of its extremely fast burn rate. Subsequently, a sample of …
Continue reading Chlorate Compositions in Quickmatch

K.L. and B.J Kosanke ABSTRACT: Fireworks star shells occasionally explode upon firing while they are still inside the mortar. Most often, this occurs with approximately the same level of violence as when the shell explodes after having left the mortar, and often even relatively weak mortars survive the experience intact. While unnerving to the firing …
Continue reading Hypotheses Regarding Star-Shell Detonations

K. L. Kosanke, B. J. Kosanke & 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) of the resulting X-rays. In recent years, this same methodology has found increasing use in detecting and characterizing pyrotechnic reaction …
Continue reading Pyrotechnic Reaction Residue Particle Identification by SEM / EDS

 K.L. and B.J Kosanke Introduction: A major study of electric match sensitiveness was recently completed.[1] This article presents the results of a test to reveal aspects of the firing characteristics for the same collection of 10 electric match types as in the previous articles. Ref: Selected Pyrotechnic Publication of K.L. and B.J Kosanke, Part 6, …
Continue reading Electric Matches: Ramp Firing Current

K.L. and B.J Kosanke Introduction: A major study of electric match sensitiveness was recently completed.[1] This article continues that work and presents a compilation of the physical parameters (as measured and/or provided by the suppliers) for the same collection of 10 electric match types as in the previous article. Ref: Selected Pyrotechnic Publication of K.L. …
Continue reading Electric Matches: Physical Parameters

K.L. and B.J Kosanke  ABSTRACT: If one has a reasonably accurate computer model, it is usually appropriate (cheaper and faster) to rely primarily on modeled results, supplemented with limited experimental results. The case of aerial shell ballistics is no exception. The mathematical basis for such a ballistics model is derived, and the simplifications and assumptions …
Continue reading Computer Modeling of Aerial Shell Ballistics