OPINIONS – Issues with UN explosives classification – a personal perspective

Dr Tom Smith Abstract: The United Nations classification regime for explosives is well established and has undoubtedly led to improvements in transport safety. However there are challenges that the hazard based approach faces and this paper attempts to highlight some of the more pressing issues. Ref: JPyro, Issue 33, 2014, pp9-15 (J33-9) OPINIONS This article is …
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Screening of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) contents in fireworks

Silke Schwarz, Annett Knorr and Christian Lohrer Abstract: This paper gives a brief overview of the findings of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in fireworks compositions observed within EC type-examinations according to Module B (as set out in the annex II of the Directive 2007/23/EC) of the notified body BAM. In this work, roughly 220 samples were analysed, …
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Visual and Near Infrared Mass Extinction Coefficient of Five Pyrotechnic Screening Smokes

Matti Harkoma Abstract: The screening properties of five different obscurants were compared at relative humidities of 30%, 50% and 85% and mass extinction coefficients were calculated. The obscurants were five military smokes: 1) a traditional hexachloroethane, Zn powder and TNT based screening smoke, the HC smoke as a reference, 2) a potassium chlorite, Mg powder …
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Assessment of Explosives in Squibs

Lutz Kurth, Holger Krebs, Benjamin Theil, Olaf Mücke, Christian Lohrer Abstract: Experiments in this study reveal that the initiating capability of commonly used squibs is not high enough to initiate PETN in all cases. The fulfilment of the ‘new’ essential safety requirement 4 as set out in the European directive 2013/29/EU and the categorization of squibs …
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The Senko Hanabi Sparkler: A Study Of Its Reaction Mechanisms

Frederick Van Der Sypt, M.D. Abstract: The senko hanabi sparkler was found to be a very useful tool to study glitter phenomena. It was shown that current theoretical frameworks are incapable of explaining all observations. New elements were added to the discussion about the role of critical temperature and potassium sulfate concentration on the glitter …
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The Senko Hanabi Sparkler: A Study Of Factors Affecting Construction And Performance

Frederick Van Der Sypt, M.D. Abstract: This article describes the many variables that influence the proper functioning of a senko hanabi sparkler. Standardization of these variables led to the development of a reliable and optimized device. On top of this, two new effects were added to the traditional design, the first being a diversification and …
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Shellcalc© version 5.23

A new version of Shellcalc© is available (5.23) The following changes have been made Taken out the backgrounds on the scaled plots to make copy/paste easier into Powerpoint (It comes in transparent now if you just select the Excel graph) Updated the copy/paste instructions Added a scaled plan plot Added a screengrab of superimposing Shellcalc© …
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Measurements of Sound Pressure Levels for Aerial Shell Mortar Firings and Star Shell Bursts

K. L. Kosanke and B. J. Kosanke Abstract: A large number of sound pressure level (SPL) measurements were recorded for the firing and bursting of firework star shells ranging in size from 3 to 6 inch (75 to 150 mm). The results of a series of 400 measurements of SPLs of firework aerial shell mortar firings …
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Shellcalc© – 10 years on. A review of progress and application

Tom Smith Abstract: Shellcalc© was originally developed by John Harradine and published by him and the author of this paper in the Journal of Pyrotechnics. Shellcalc© has been significantly developed since its original publication and now provides a wide range of simulations. The program has been used to model potential hazards from firework comets and …
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Decomposition Kinetics of Pyrotechnic Mixture from Sound-Producing Fire Crackers

A. Jeya Rajendran, T. Lekshmana Thanulingam, A. Meisudar and U. Manikandan Abstract: Dynamic, non-isothermal analysis of the pyrotechnic mixture of a sound-producing fire cracker, KNO3/Al/S/H3BO3,was carried out under N2 atmosphere by using a simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyser. Intermediates and the residue formed in each stage of thermal decomposition of the pyrotechnic mixture were …
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