Strobe Chemistry

Clive Jennings-White

ABSTRACT: Pyrotechnic strobe compositions burn in an oscillatory manner such that there is a marked variation of emitted light intensity as a function of time. The most common theoretical explanation for the phenomenon is that such compositions contain within them sub-compositions that may be regarded as a smoulder composition and a flash composition. The smoulder reaction would have a lower activation energy and low heat output. The flash reaction would have a high activation energy and high heat output. The actual chemical components of strobe compositions are extremely diverse, confounding a unified chemistry of the phenomenon. Nevertheless the majority of strobe compositions can in fact be reasonably deconstructed into smoulder and flash compositions. However, there appear to be a few strobe compositions that defy such explanation; although it is possible that the author lacks the wit to comprehend the chemistry. It is also possible that the prevailing theory applies to some, but not to all, strobe compositions; and it is yet possible that a different theory will provide a more encompassing explanation with better predictive power.

Keywords: strobe, formulation, theory, flash, magnalium, smoulder, smolder

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Ref: JPyro, Issue 20, 2004, pp7-16
(J20_7)

© Journal of Pyrotechnics and CarnDu Ltd



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