Category:Original articles

D. Chapman Abstract: The CHAF* project was instigated following a series of accidents in large-scale storage of fireworks, by far the most serious being that at Enschede in the Netherlands. The project aims to quantify and suggest means to control the hazards associated with large-scale fi reworks storage by small-, medium- and large-scale investigations on …
Continue reading An Introduction to the European CHAF Project

Barry T. Sturman Abstract: A brief review is given of the history and technology of chlorinated rubber. The empirical formula is approximately (C10H11Cl7)n, corresponding to 65.4% Cl. The structure is complex, and includes partially chlorinated cyclohexane rings. All the Cl is released as HCl on pyrolysis. The enthalpy of formation was estimated from the reported …
Continue reading Notes on chlorinated rubber and some other chlorine donors

Dayu Ding, Morimasa Higaki, Yuzo Ooki, and Tadao Yoshida* Abstract: Firing firework star experiments have been carried out using 20 mm and 25 mm inner diameter steel mortars equipped with two or four pressure transducers, and the pressure profi les were recorded. The relative pressure profiles of the four positions in the mortar changed with …
Continue reading Pressure in a Mortar and Estimation of Muzzle Velocity of Expelled Stars

Ann Wright, Warfield Teague M. Keith Hudson, Andrew Wright, Patrick Foley Abstract: Guanidinium azo-tetrazolate (GAT) is an organic salt with a high percentage of nitrogen. GAT was mixed with the standard hybrid rocket fuel, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), in concentrations of 15% and 25% by mass. The fuel grains with the GAT additive were fired for …
Continue reading A Thrust and Impulse Study of Guanidinium Azo-Tetrazolate as a Fuel Additive for Hybrid Rocket Motor

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B. T. Sturman and K. L. Kosanke Abstract: A simple lilac flame composition consisting of 80% potassium nitrate and 20% shellac was investigated by emission spectroscopy and thermodynamic modeling. The flame from the burning composition had a reddish-pink core with a brighter pale lilac outer envelope. The core of the flame is presumably close to …
Continue reading Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Analysis of a Simple Lilac Flame Composition

L. T. Briscoe, K. L. Kosanke, and R. C. Dujay Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the potential for being able to identify primer gunshot residue (PGSR) within the substantial quantities of particulate residues produced during the firing of a revolver using Black Powder propellant and a percussion cap primer. Samples of gunshot residue …
Continue reading Primer Gunshot Residue Detection from the Firing of a Black Powder Revolver

K. L. Kosanke and B. J. Kosanke Abstract: Lightning Thermo Tube (LTT) is a recently introduced type of shock tube with characteristics that make it highly suitable for use with common pyrotechnics. LTT is reliably initiated by reasonably energetic electric matches and reliably ignites most pyrotechnic compositions. LTT is physically strong, easily spliced and branched, …
Continue reading An Evaluation of Lightning Thermo Tube™ as a Pyrotechnic Ignition System

John Wraige Abstract: This report presents the results of experiments carried out spasmodically over 14 years to investigate the glitter phenomenon. Various glitter compositions are disclosed. Some of these show that the use of sulphur in either elemental or combined form is unnecessary. Others show that similar considerations apply to antimony or any other heavy …
Continue reading The Search For The Glitter Phenomenon

Kazuomi Itoh, Dayu Ding, Hiroshi Tajima and Tadao Yoshida* Abstract: The spectroscopic measurement of burning stars has been carried out in order to examine the spectra of the stars, the peak intensity profiles of the spectra, the burning time and behavior, and the effect of filters on the attenuation of peak intensity and the excitation …
Continue reading Spectroscopic Measurement of Burning Stars