Month:February 2007

Ken Burdick ABSTRACT: This paper presents some initial work on the use of silicones including GE Silicone II (GE280 and GE5000) as a fuel and binder in fireworks. Some of the pros and cons of silicones are covered, as well as a partial list of safety concerns. A brief review of silicone chemistry is included …
Continue reading Silicone II: A New Fuel and Binder for Fireworks

Scot Anderson ABSTRACT: Ammonium perchlorate has long been used to produce high-quality color stars and lances. In this article the author uses the basic ingredients of composite rocket propellants to generate colored flame suitable for pyrotechnic display. The use of composite materials has several advantages over classic formulations in that the material is handled in …
Continue reading Composite Color Stars

Will Meyerriecks ABSTRACT: The utilization of free energy minimization computer programs in areas of combustion research is likely to increase in the future. These programs require the specification of the reactant chemical formulas and their respective formation enthalpies as part of the input data set. Frequently, for common compounds, the values required are readily available …
Continue reading Organic Fuels: Composition and Formation Enthalpy-Part I- Wood Derivatives, Related Carbohydrates, Exudates, and Rosin

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke ABSTRACT: A collection of six commercial concussion powders were test fired in concussion mortars to determine internal mortar pressures, air blast pressures, and the durations of air blast positive phase. The internal mortar pressures for various powder types and load mass ranged from less than 200 psi (1.4 MPa) …
Continue reading A Survey of Concussion Powders

D. Chapman ABSTRACT: This paper examines the analysis of pyrotechnic compositions found in fireworks for the presence of sulfur and chlorate ion (ClO3–). Admixtures of these two components can produce compositions which have high sensitiveness to mechanical stimuli (e.g., friction and impact), may be thermally unstable, and are not normally permitted in fireworks in the …
Continue reading Techniques for the Quantitative Analysis of Sulphur and Chlorate in Fireworks Compositions

Kazuo Hara, Mitsuhiro Kanazawa, ABSTRACT: The Yoshida Hazard Analysis (YHA) was applied to the manufacturing of a gas generant composed of Urazole, a metal nitrate (Urazole/MNO3) and other materials. The safety hazards of the materials used in the manufacturing process were identified and evaluated in a hazard catalog, and the risks of each unit operation …
Continue reading Hazard Analysis for the Manufacture of a Non-UN Gas Generant

L. Weinman ABSTRACT: Presented is a brief description of the use of flow agents in pyrotechnics. Examples of the use of several agents are described and a simple test for flowability is presented. Keywords: pyrotechnics, flow agents, flowability, silica, aluminum oxide, carbon black Ref: JPyro, Issue 5, 1997, pp8-10 (J5_8)

E. J. Clinger and Wesley D. Smith  ABSTRACT: A semi-empirical theory is presented for the design of model rocket motors that use Black Powder for fuel. By choosing the values of a few adjustable parameters, a hobbyist can construct motors that perform satisfactorily without extensive or dangerous trial and error. Formulas are given for calculating the …
Continue reading Model Rocket Engines, Theory and Design

Richard J. Fisher ABSTRACT: A severe human electrostatic discharge (ESD) equivalent source model has been developed for use in qualification testing of systems that have stringent safety or very high reliability requirements. The model produces the nowacknowledged worst-case waveform, and the values of the constituent components have been selected from measured human body electrical parameters …
Continue reading A Severe Human ESD Model for Safety and High Reliability System Qualification Testing