Jay C. Poret

Boron Carbide as a Barium-Free Green Light Emitter and Burn Rate Modifier in Pyrotechnics

Abstract : A pyrotechnic with green-light emission for both military use and civilian fireworks has been developed without the need to use barium or chlorinated compounds. Boron carbide serves as a green colorant and fuel in the presence of potassium nitrate oxidizer and an epoxy binder. This environmentally friendly formulation is very stable to impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge, and has a high thermal stability.

Use of Crystalline Boron as a Burn Rate Retardant Toward the Development of Green-Colored Handheld Signal Formulations

The effect of using crystalline boron in green-colored handheld signal formulations is described. Due to its chemically inert nature, crystalline boron served to reduce the burn rates of the formulations. By adjusting crystalline boron percentages in the formulations, the pyrotechnic system could be tuned to meet burn time specifications.

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.

Comparison of Barium and Amorphous Boron Pyrotechnics for Green Light Emission

A comparison of green light emission from both barium- and amorphous boron–based pyrotechnics is described. Emission spectra are shown for both the U.S. Army in-service M125A1 green star cluster formulation and an amorphous boron–potassium nitrate–binder formulation. The main peaks of the emission spectra, average dominant wavelength, and average spectral purity of both formulations are given. The role that combustion products play in determining flame temperature and continuum radiation is also discussed.

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.