As Defined by Regulation, What Is Fireworks Flash Powder?

K. L. Kosanke and L. Weinman Although widely used, the term “flash powder” is poorly defined; there is nothing even approaching universal agreement about exactly which pyrotechnic formulations are and are not fireworks flash powders. This would be of some concern under any circumstance; however, it is the use of the term—flash powder—in regulations that …
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A Report on the Fireworks Accident at Carmel, Western Australia

R. I. Grose and K. L. Kosanke* ABSTRACT: The investigation into an accident at Carmel, Western Australia in March 2002 found that the magnitude of explosions occurring in licensed and unlicensed storage areas was significantly greater than would have been expected from the UN hazard classification of items stored within them. Use of revised UN …
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A Brief Description of the Construction and Functioning of Common Electric Matches

Lawrence Weinman and K. L. Kosanke ABSTRACT: A simple description of the construction and the physical principles governing the function of common electric matches and some implications of these principles for testing and firing them are presented. Keywords: electric match, heat resistance, current, volt, pyrogen Ref: Selected Pyrotechnic Publication of K.L. and B.J Kosanke, Part …
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Indoor Pyrotechnics-A Brief Cautionary Message

M. J. McVicar and K. L. Kosanke The forensic science community has had a long-standing interest in the analysis of the residues deposited after the deployment of devices whose operation involves a controlled explosion. For example, testing for the residues of the compounds of lead, barium, and antimony, used in the primer of small-arms ammunitions, …
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Typical Mortar Recoil Forces Produced When Firing Spherical Aerial Shells

K. L. Kosanke and L. Weinman (Included in the text of this article are a series of notes. These notes present ancillary information that may be of interest to some readers but are not strictly needed within the context of this article. Thus readers should feel free to ignore the notes unless they desire more …
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The Effect of Intentionally Caused Fire Leaks into 2-1/4-Inch Consumer Fireworks Shells

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke A series of experiments are being conducted to more definitively establish the difference between the causes of so-called flowerpots[1] andmuzzle breaks.[2] Testing was performed to document the effect of firing small firework aerial shells after having intentionally provided fire leaks into those shells. The idea for this testing originated …
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Further Report on the Testing of Suspect Tiger-Tail Comets

K. L. and B. J. Kosanke In the hope of avoiding a serious accident, earlier issues of Fireworks Business carried a report of the powerfully explosive malfunctions of some tiger-tail comets,[1] and then a brief report of an examination and initial testing of a number of the suspect comets.[2] Since that time, samples from one …
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Color Values and Spectra of the Principal Emitters in Colored Flames

W. Meyerriecks* and K. L. Kosanke ABSTRACT: The emission spectra of many of the more important emitters in pyrotechnic flames were collected. For this purpose solutions and suspensions of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, barium and copper salts were aspirated into a propane gas flame as the excitation source. Performing instrument corrections and using appropriate data reduction …
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