Chemistry of pyrotechnics

Начало книги

Fireworks burst in the sky over the Washington Monument to celebrate Independence Day. Such fireworks combine all of the effects that can be created using pyrotechnic mixtures. A fuse made with black powder provides a time delay between lighting and launching.

A propellant charge--also black powder-lifts each fireworks cannis-ter hundreds of feet into the air. There, a "bursting charge" ruptures the casing while igniting numerous small "stars"--pellets of composition that burn with vividly-colored flames. (Zambelli Internationale)

1

I NTRODUCTION

This book is an introduction to the basic principles and theory of pyrotechnics. Much of the material is also applicable to the closely-related areas of propellants and explosives. The term "high-energy chemistry" will be used to refer to all of these fields. Explosives rapidly release large amounts of energy, and engineers take advantage of this energy and the associated shock and pressure to do work. Pyrotechnic mixtures react more slowly, producing light, color, smoke, heat, noise, and motion.

Читать дальше →