Jared D. Moretti

Periodate Salts as Pyrotechnic Oxidizers: Development of Barium‐ and Perchlorate‐Free Incendiary Formulations

In a flash: pyrotechnic incendiary formulations with good stabilities toward various ignition stimuli have been developed without the need for barium or perchlorate oxidizers. KIO(4) and NaIO(4) were introduced as pyrotechnic oxidizers and exhibited excellent pyrotechnic performance. The periodate salts may garner widespread use in military and civilian fireworks because of their low hygroscopicities and high chemical reactivities.

High-Nitrogen-Based Pyrotechnics: Perchlorate-Free Red- and Green-Light Illuminants Based on 5-Aminotetrazole

Prototype testing of perchlorate-free hand-held signal illuminants for the US Armys M126 A1 red-star and M195 green-star parachute illuminants are described. Although previous perchlorate-free variants for these items have been developed based on high-nitrogen compounds that are not readily available, the new formulations consist of anhydrous 5-aminotetrazole as the suitable perchlorate replacement. Compared to the perchlorate-containing control, the disclosed illuminants exhibited excellent stabilities toward various ignition stimuli and had excellent pyrotechnic performance. The illuminants are important from both military and civil fireworks perspectives, as the perchlorate-free nature of the illuminants adequately address environmental concerns associated with perchlorate-containing red- and green-light-emitting illuminants.

High‐Performing Red‐Light‐Emitting Pyrotechnic Illuminants through the Use of Perchlorate‐Free Materials

The development of perchlorate-free M662 40 mm illuminating pyrotechnic compositions is described. On the bases of cost, performance, and sensitivity, potassium periodate was determined to be most effective potassium perchlorate replacement in the compositions tested. The optimal periodate-based composition exceeded the performance of the perchlorate-containing control, exhibited low sensitivity values to impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge, and had high thermal onset temperatures.

Chlorine-Free Red-Burning Pyrotechnics

The development of a red, chlorine-free pyrotechnic illuminant of high luminosity and spectral purity was investigated. Red-light emission based solely on transient SrOH(g) has been achieved by using either 5-amino-1H-tetrazole or hexamine to deoxidize the combustion flame of a Mg/Sr(NO3 )2 /Epon-binder composition and reduce the amount of both condensed and gaseous SrO, which emits undesirable orange-red light. The new formulations were found to possess high thermal onset temperatures. Avoiding chlorine in these formulations eliminates the risk of the formation of PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. This finding, hence, will have a great impact on both military pyrotechnics and commercial firework sectors.

Single-Point-of-Failure Mitigation: Prove-Out of a Green Light–Emitting Illuminant Composition in the Handheld Signal Cluster and 40-mm Parachute Configurations

The development of handheld signal cluster and 40-mm parachute green light–emitting pyrotechnic compositions is described. Of the new compositions evaluated, one was found to exceed the military requirements in burn time, luminous intensity, dominant wavelength, and spectral purity in both the cluster and parachute configurations. The new illuminant composition is not plagued by single-point-of-failure concerns, as the Laminac 4116/Lupersol binder system has been replaced by the widely available Epon 813/Versamid 140 binder system. In addition, the new illuminant composition was found to be insensitive toward impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge and had a high thermal onset temperature.