I
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data PREFACE
Conkling, John A., [date]
Chemistry of pyrotechnics.
Includes bibliographies and index.
1. Fireworks. I. Title.
TP300.C66 1985
6621 . 1
85-7017
ISBN 0-8247-7443-4
Everyone has observed chemical reactions involving pyrotechnic mixtures. Beautiful 4th of July fireworks, highway distress signals, Warning: Formulas in this book relate to mixtures, some or all solid fuel boosters for the Space Shuttle, and the black powder used of which may be highly volatile and could react violently if ignited by muzzle-loading rifle enthusiasts all have a common technical back-by heat, spark, or friction. High-energy mixtures should never ground.
be prepared or handled by anyone untrained in proper safety pre-The chemical principles underlying these high-energy materials cautions. All work in connection with pyrotechnics and explosives have been somewhat neglected in the twentieth century by academic should be done only by experienced personnel and only with appro-and industrial researchers. Most of the recent work has been goal-priate environmental safeguards. The publisher and the author oriented rather than fundamental in nature (e.g. , produce a deeper disclaim all responsibility for injury or damage resulting from use green flame). Many of the significant results are found in military of any formula or mixture described in this book ; each user assumes reports, and chemical fundamentals must be gleaned from many pages all liability resulting from such usage.
of test results.
Much of today's knowledge is carried in the heads of experienced personnel. Many of these workers acquired their initial training dur-COPYRIGHT ©1985 by MARCEL DEKKER, INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ing World War II, and they are presently fast approaching (if not already past) retirement age. This is most unfortunate for future Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in researchers. Newcomers have a difficult time acquiring the skills and any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo-knowledge needed to begin productive experiments. A background copying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage in chemistry is helpful, but much of today's modern chemistry cur-and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the pub-riculum will never be used by someone working in pyrotechnics and lisher.
explosives. Further, the critical education in how to safely mix, MARCEL DEKKER, INC.
handle, and store high-energy materials is not covered at all in to-270 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
day's schools and must be acquired in "on-the-job" training.
This book is an attempt to provide an introduction to the basic Current printing (last digit)
principles of high-energy chemistry to newcomers and to serve as a 10 9 8 7 6
review for experienced personnel. It can by no means substitute PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
for the essential "hands on" experience and training necessary to iii
iv
Preface
safely work in the field, but I hope that it will be a helpful compan-1
ion. An attempt has been made to keep chemical theory simple and directly applicable to pyrotechnics and explosives. The level approaches that of an introductory college course, and study of this text may prepare persons to attend professional meetings and seminars dealing with high-energy materials and enable them to intelli-gently follow the material being presented. In particular, the International Pyrotechnic Seminars, hosted biannually by the Illinois CONTENTS
Institute of Technology Research Institute in conjunction with the International Pyrotechnics Society, have played a major role in bringing researchers together to discuss current work. The Proceedings of the nine seminars held to date contain a wealth of information that can be read and contemplated by persons with adequate introduction to the field of high-energy chemistry.
I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Richard Seltzer of the American Chemical Society and to Dr. Maurits Dekker of Marcel Dekker, Inc. for their encouragement and their willingness to rec-Preface
ill
ognize pyrotechnics as a legitimate branch of modern chemistry. I am grateful to Washington College for a sabbatical leave in 1983 that enabled me to finalize the manuscript. I would also like to express CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1
my thanks to many colleagues in the field of pyrotechnics who have Brief History
3
provided me with data as well as encouragement, and to my 1983 and References
6
1984 Summer Chemistry Seminar groups at Washington College for their review of draft versions of this book. I also appreciate the CHAPTER 2 BASIC CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES
support and encouragement given to me by my wife and children as Atoms and Molecules
I concentrated on this effort.
The Mole Concept
Finally, I must acknowledge the many years of friendship and Electron Transfer Reactions
collaboration that I enjoyed with Dr. Joseph H. McLain, former Thermodynamics
Chemistry Department Chairman and subsequently President of Rates of Chemical Reactions
Washington College. It was his enthusiasm and encouragement that Energy-Rich Bonds
dragged me away from the norbornyl cation and physical organic States of Matter
chemistry into the fascinating realm of pyrotechnics and explosives.
Acids and Bases
The field of high-energy chemistry lost an important leader when Instrumental Analysis
Dr. McLain passed away in 1981.
Light Emission
References
John A. Conkling
CHAPTER 3 COMPONENTS OF HIGH-ENERGY
MIXTURES
49
Introduction
49
Oxidizing Agents
51
Fuels
63
Binders
79
Retardants
80
References
80
V
vi
Contents
CHAPTER 4 PYROTECHNIC PRINCIPLES
83
Introduction
83
Requirements for a Good High-Energy Mixture
93
Preparation of High-Energy Mixtures
94
References
96
CHEMISTRY OF
CHAPTER 5 IGNITION AND PROPAGATION
97
Ignition Principles
97
Sensitivity
108
PYROTECHNICS
Propagation of Burning
111
References
123
CHAPTER 6 HEAT AND DELAY COMPOSITIONS
125
Heat Production
125
Delay Compositions
128
Ignition Compositions and First Fires
133
Thermite Mixtures
134
Propellants
136
References
140
CHAPTER 7 COLOR AND LIGHT PRODUCTION
143
White Light Compositions
143
Sparks
147
Flitter and Glitter
149
Color
150
References
165
CHAPTER 8 SMOKE AND SOUND
167
Smoke Production
167
Colored Smoke Mixtures
169
White Smoke Production
172
Noise
176
References
i79
APPENDIXES
181
Appendix A : Obtaining Pyrotechnic Literature 181
Appendix B : Mixing Test Quantities of Pyrotechnic Compositions
182
I ndex
185
Fireworks burst in the sky over the Washington Monument to celebrate Independence Day. Such fireworks combine all of the effects that can be created using pyrotechnic mixtures. A fuse made with black powder provides a time delay between lighting and launching.
A propellant charge--also black powder-lifts each fireworks cannis-ter hundreds of feet into the air. There, a "bursting charge" ruptures the casing while igniting numerous small "stars"--pellets of composition that burn with vividly-colored flames. (Zambelli Internationale)
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