Category:JPyro – Articles

D. Chapman, R. K. Wharton and G. E. Williamson ABSTRACT: The presence of sulfur/chlorate mixtures in fireworks compositions has been proposed as the cause of numerous accidents in production and storage. A series of accidents after the introduction of the 1875 Explosives Act led to additional legislation to prohibit such mixtures in the UK. In …
Continue reading Studies of the Thermal Stability and Sensitiveness of Sulfur/Chlorate Mixtures Part 1. Introduction

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke ABSTRACT: The ideal pyrotechnic is completely stable in storage and handling, yet performs its mission completely with absolute reliability upon demand. Many accidents in pyrotechnics are the result of unintentional ignitions during handling and storage. There can also be serious safety ramifications of ignition and propagation failures of pyrotechnic …
Continue reading Pyrotechnic Ignition and Propagation: A Review

Ed Brown ABSTRACT: When one wishes to predict or analyze rocket motor/engine performance accurately, a method for determining the nozzle thrust coefficient at each point in time is essential. If the vacuum thrust coefficient for the nozzle is known, the thrust coefficient for other conditions can easily be determined. This paper outlines several methods for …
Continue reading Methods for Calculation of Thrust Coefficients

R. K. Wharton and R. Merrifield ABSTRACT: In this paper we have analysed further some of our previously published data relating to thermal effects produced on the ignition of a range of pyrotechnic compositions, and have evaluated the hazards posed to those handling and working with such materials by reference to the distances for different …
Continue reading Thermal Hazards from the Accidental Ignition of Pyrotechnic Compositions

Rutger Webb The following letter contains some comments on the possible applications for computer codes in the development of pyrotechnic compositions. It is hoped to stimulate more discussion on the practical applications of thermodynamic computer codes in the development of pyrotechnic compositions. (For example, for modeling colored compositions). Ref: JPyro, Issue 7, 1998, pp74-75 (J7_74)

Monona Rossol A two page summary of research done by Dr. Jacqueline M. Moline from the Mount Sinai- Irving J. Selikoff Center for Environmental and Occupational Medicine[1] investigated the health complaints of 25 pit musicians at the Beauty and the Beast. These musicians are exposed nightly to pyrotechnic emissions, glycol fog mists, and other air …
Continue reading Another Fog Study

K. L. Kosanke, B. J. Kosanke and C. Jennings-White ABSTRACT: A brief series of measurements was made on the flashes produced by a simple glitter formulation. In part this was done as a test of one theory for the chemistry of glitter. However, this was also done to produce some intrinsically interesting data that have …
Continue reading Some Measurements of Glitter

Roland K. Wharton and David Chapman ABSTRACT: This paper clarifies the differences between the terms sensitivity and sensitiveness, highlights the adoption of the latter by the United Nations, and proposes that sensitiveness could usefully be employed in describing certain hazard characteristics of pyrotechnic compositions. Keywords: sensitiveness, sensitivity, hazard, pyrotechnic Ref: JPyro, Issue 7, 1998, pp65-68 …
Continue reading Use of the Term Sensitiveness to Describe the Response of Pyrotechnic Compositions to Accidental Stimuli

Barry Cook ABSTRACT: An inexpensive, readily prepared and relatively insensitive powdered fuel suitable for the filling of small firework display rocket motors using a funnel and rammer technique is discussed. Firework display rocket motors are typically cardboard or aluminium tubes filled with a gunpowder derivative. Consolidation is achieved by incremental filling and pressing or, as …
Continue reading Novel Powder Fuel for Firework Display Rocket Motors

D. Chapman, R. K. Wharton, J. E. Fletcher & G. E. Williamson ABSTRACT: The sensitiveness and thermal stability of stoichiometric sulfur/chlorate mixtures (approximately 30:70) have been investigated. The mixtures were found to be very sensitive to friction, with BAM limiting loads below 40 N. Some ignitions occurring at the lowest measurable level of 5 N …
Continue reading Studies of the Thermal Stability and Sensitiveness of Sulfur/Chlorate Mixtures Part 2. Stoichiometric Mixes