Review of The Chemistry of Fireworks
Michael S. Russell
Review by Paul Smith
Michael S. Russell’s treatise on the chemistry involved in the composition of display fireworks is a welcome primer on the chemistry of pyrotechnics. While this book was written for the student with ‘A’ level qualification or equivalent, it has potential for use in a college level general chemistry course. (The British ‘A’ level equates to Advanced Placement (A.P.) coursework at the high school level in the United States.) Russell’s 12 chapters cover the basic devices safety, and British regulations and standards. Chapter 1 includes a seven-page glossary of pyrotechnic terms designed to help the person reading pyrotechnic literature for the first time. Some of the definitions are quite brief and do not completely explain some key terms. Stars are defined simply as “a compressed pellet of explosive composition designed to be projected as a pyrotechnic unit”. This definition excludes two major forms of stars—rolled and cut. This reviewer found the glossary helpful in translating some of the British terms for fireworks; terminology is not always the same. For example, the U.S. pyrotechnician would know the burster as the burst charge or composition, the British term for lift charge is propellant, and U.S. terms Quick match and Black Match are called piped match and quick match, respectively in Britain.
Click download link below for more information
Ref: JPyro, Issue 12, 2000, pp69-70
(J12_69)
© Journal of Pyrotechnics and CarnDu Ltd
