Chemistry of Pyrotechnics : Basic Principles and Theory

Cover......Page 1
Half Title......Page 2
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Preface to the Third Edition: 2019......Page 12
Preface to the Second Edition: 2010......Page 14
Preface to the First Edition: 1985......Page 16
Authors......Page 18
A Primer on Energetic Materials......Page 20
Black Powder: The Original Pyrotechnic......Page 22
A Brief History and Cultural Significance......Page 24
Atoms and Molecules......Page 28
The Mole Concept......Page 36
Oxidation–Reduction Theory......Page 38
The Pyro Valence Method: A Simple Yet Powerful Technique......Page 40
Balancing an Equation......Page 43
Is a Chemical Compound Fuel or Oxygen Rich?......Page 44
Weight Ratio Calculations......Page 45
Three-Component Systems......Page 46
Pyro Valence Exercises......Page 47
Additional Pyro Valence Problems......Page 50
Electrochemistry......Page 51
Introduction to Thermodynamics......Page 53
Heat of Reaction......Page 55
Rates of Chemical Reactions......Page 58
Energy-Rich Bonds......Page 61
States of Matter......Page 62
Gases......Page 63
Liquids......Page 64
The Solid State......Page 65
Acids and Bases......Page 67
Light Emission......Page 69
Molecular Emission......Page 72
“Green” Chemistry and Pyrotechnics: An Introduction......Page 73
Chemical Principles: A Final Note......Page 74
Chapter 3 Components of Energetic Compositions......Page 76
Introduction......Page 77
Requirements......Page 79
Potassium Chlorate (KClO[sub(3)])......Page 83
Potassium Perchlorate (KClO[sub(4)])......Page 87
Green Pyrotechnics: The Perchlorate Issue......Page 88
Ammonium Perchlorate (NH[sub(4)]ClO[sub(4)])......Page 90
Ammonium Perchlorate in the News......Page 91
Dinitramides: A “Green” Replacement for Perchlorates?......Page 92
Periodates: A “Green” Replacement for Perchlorates?......Page 93
Strontium Nitrate [Sr(NO[sub(3)])[sub(2)]]......Page 94
Iron Oxide [Fe[sub(2)]O[sub(3)] and Fe[sub(3)]O[sub(4)]]......Page 95
Other Oxidizers......Page 96
Summary on Oxidizers and Their Use......Page 97
Requirements......Page 98
Introduction to Metal Fuels......Page 100
Aluminum (Al)......Page 102
Magnesium (Mg)......Page 103
“Magnalium” (Magnesium–Aluminum Alloy)......Page 104
Other Metals......Page 105
Sulfur......Page 106
Boron......Page 108
Silicon......Page 109
Phosphorus......Page 110
Introduction to Organic Fuels......Page 111
Charcoal......Page 113
Carbohydrates......Page 114
Other Organic Fuels......Page 115
An Overview of Binders......Page 116
Most Binders Are Also Fuels......Page 120
Retardants......Page 121
Brief Note on Colored Dyes......Page 122
Gas Volume Considerations: A Review......Page 123
Conclusion and Best Practices in Component Selection......Page 124
Introduction......Page 126
Technical Parameters for Pyrotechnic Behavior......Page 127
Variability of Pyrotechnic Compositions......Page 132
Requirements for a “Good” High-Energy Mixture......Page 138
Preparation of High-Energy Mixtures: An Introduction......Page 140
Variation from Day to Day......Page 141
Possible Areas Where Variation in the Performance and Sensitivity of Pyrotechnic Mixtures Can Occur During the Manufacturing Process......Page 142
Aging Effects on Pyrotechnic Compositions......Page 143
Pyrotechnic Principles: A Final Note......Page 144
Chapter 5 Pyrotechnic Laboratories and Analysis......Page 146
The Pyrotechnic Laboratory......Page 147
Storage......Page 148
Safety: Personal Protective Equipment and Common Practices......Page 150
Composition Production......Page 151
Sizing Particles and Powders......Page 152
Measuring Chemicals......Page 154
Mixing the Compositions......Page 155
Setting Up the Lab Hood/Firing Range......Page 156
Igniting the Composition......Page 157
Introduction to Analysis of Pyrotechnic Compositions......Page 158
Thermal Analysis......Page 159
Spectroscopy......Page 163
Other Equipment and Techniques......Page 164
Laboratories and Analysis: A Final Note......Page 165
Chapter 6 Ignition and Propagation......Page 166
Ignition Techniques......Page 167
Combustion, Deflagration, and Detonation......Page 168
Ignition Factors: Part 1......Page 169
Lattice Structure, Motion, Reactivity, and “The Tammann Temperature”......Page 171
Ignition Factors: Part 2......Page 172
Ignition Temperatures......Page 176
Methods for Determining Ignition Temperatures......Page 177
Introduction and Measuring Propagation......Page 180
Effects from Component Selection......Page 181
Effects from Mass Ratio and Stoichiometry......Page 182
Effect from Other Factors: Heat Transfer, Loading Density, and Moisture......Page 183
Effect of External Pressure and Confinement......Page 184
Effect of External Temperature......Page 187
Burning Surface Area......Page 188
Deflagration-to-Detonation Transitions (DDT)......Page 189
Combustion Flame Temperature......Page 190
Propagation Index......Page 194
Ignition and Propagation: A Final Note......Page 195
Sensitivity Testing: An Introduction......Page 196
Ignition Sensitivity: A Statistical Event......Page 197
Sensitivity Testing: Safety Concerns......Page 198
Variability in Sensitivity Testing Results......Page 199
Spark Sensitivity......Page 200
Friction Sensitivity......Page 203
Impact Sensitivity......Page 205
Thermal Sensitivity Overview......Page 208
Divergent Sensitivity Changes......Page 211
Shock Sensitivity: A Brief Note......Page 212
Redesigning a Composition for Sensitivity Considerations......Page 213
Pyrotechnic Sensitivity: Summary......Page 214
Chapter 8 Heat Compositions: Ignition Mixes, Delays, and Thermites......Page 216
Igniters and Delays: Terminology......Page 217
Ignition Compositions and First Fires......Page 220
Delay Compositions......Page 223
Thermodynamics and Delay Compositions......Page 225
Stoichiometry and Delay Compositions......Page 226
“Green Pyrotechnics” for Delay Systems......Page 228
Thermite and Thermate Mixtures......Page 229
Heat Compositions: Summary......Page 231
Chapter 9 Propellants: A Brief Overview......Page 232
Propellants: An Introduction......Page 233
The Original Propellant: Black Powder......Page 234
Smokeless Powders......Page 235
Propellants for Launch Vehicles......Page 239
Projectile vs. Rocket Propellants......Page 240
Modern Approaches in Propellants......Page 241
Introduction......Page 244
Overview of White-Light Production......Page 245
Illuminating Compositions and Flares......Page 246
“Photoflash” Mixtures......Page 249
Spark Production......Page 250
Strobes and “Twinklers”......Page 252
Other Light Effects: Flitter and Glitter......Page 253
Overview of Colored-Light Production......Page 254
Oxidizer Selection......Page 257
Fuels and Burning Rates......Page 258
Color Intensification with Chlorine......Page 259
Red Flame Compositions: Classic Strontium-Based Systems......Page 261
Red Flame Compositions: Lithium-Based Alternatives......Page 262
Green Flame Compositions: Classic Barium-Based Systems......Page 264
Blue Flame Compositions: Classic Copper Chloride-Based Systems......Page 267
Purple Flame Compositions......Page 270
Yellow Flame Compositions: Sodium......Page 271
Sodium Impurities: A Caution in Color Production......Page 272
Infrared Emission and Pyrotechnics......Page 273
Light and Color Production: Summary......Page 275
Introduction......Page 276
Generation and Dispersion of Solid Particles......Page 277
Overview of Colored-Smoke Production......Page 278
Green Pyrotechnics: An Environmentally Benign Yellow Smoke......Page 281
Overview of White Smoke Production......Page 283
“Green Pyrotechnics”: HC Smoke Replacement Research......Page 286
Summary: The Challenge and Opportunity of Smokes......Page 288
Noise Production: Reports......Page 290
Whistles......Page 293
Crackle Effects......Page 294
A Final Note on Studying the Chemistry of Pyrotechnics......Page 296
Acknowledgments and Thanks......Page 298
Further Resources for Exploring Pyrotechnics......Page 299
References......Page 302
Index......Page 310