Dr Takeo Shimizu ABSTRACT: In general, a pyrotechnic composition consists of an oxygen donor such as KNO3, KClO3, or KClO4, etc., an oxygen donee such as organic resin and some other inert substances. When substances, CaCO3, Al2O3, SiO or CaSO4, etc. are contained in it, they are regarded as an inert substance, because they are …
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Hypothesis on the Cause of Serious Accidents Related to Salutes Charges
Dr Takeo Shimizu Abstract: First, we hypothesize that a serious accident related to the use of salutes may be caused by the simultaneous explosion of several salutes or salute components, resulting in an unexpected, abnormally strong shock wave. To prove our theory, we conducted three experiments. In Experiment 1, we examined the transfer of the …
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Pyrotechnic Whistles
W. R. Maxwell Introduction: The fact that certain pyrotechnic compositions when pressed into a tube and ignited burn with a loud whistling noise has been known and used by firework manufacturers for many years. The two compositions most widely employed appear to be (a) a mixture of dry powdered potassium picrate and potassium nitrate in …
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Progress in Developing a Fuel-Air Salute
Fred Ryan ABSTRACT: In a fuel-air salute a fine metallic fuel is first dispersed into the surrounding air, then ignited. Such a salute is much safer than a conventional salute as the salute fuel must be mixed with air to obtain the oxygen needed to function. It can not explode violently in bulk or in …
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Evaluation of Fire and Explosion Hazards for a Non-Azide Gas Generant
Kazuo Hara, Mitsuhiro Kanazawa, and Tadao Yoshida ABSTRACT: A hazard evaluation has been carried out for the safety assessment of a new non-azide gas generant for automotive airbag inflators. The gas generant (UN) is composed of urazole (U) and a metal nitrate (MNO3;N) with other additives included to provide the required performance. The impact, shock, …
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Flash Powder Output Testing: Weak Confinement
K. L. and B. J. Kosanke ABSTRACT: A variety of flash powders were tested under weak confinement to determine the sound pressure levels and tonal characteristics produced. In these tests it was found that: the sound output from mixtures prepared with potassium perchlorate from four manufacturers are essentially equivalent; there are significant differences in the …
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SEM Studies on a Strobe Star Composition
R. I. Grose*, M. Cartwright and A. Bailey ABSTRACT: Data obtained from an analysis of an extinguished strobe star using the technique of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to provide additional evidence for a previous model for the cyclic burning process seen in a white strobe star composition. The model relies on the generation …
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Bullet Impact Sensitivity Testing of Class B Fwks. Ingredients & Detonability Testing of Flash Powders
J. Edmund Hay Introduction: The Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) requested the Bureau of Mines to perform bullet impact sensitivity tests on a selection of class B (display) fireworks shells and some ingredients thereof (flash powder, “stars”), and also to establish that the flash powder used in salute shells is a …
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Introductory Chemistry for Pyrotechnists, Part 2: The Effects of Electrons
Wesley D. Smith ABSTRACT: This is the second in a series of tutorials that introduce the concepts of chemistry to practicing pyrotechnists. The behavior of electrons in atoms is given as the fundamental explanation for all pyrotechnic processes. The periodic arrangement of the elements in a table and their tendencies to unite in chemical bonds …
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