Table Of ContentMilitary and Civilian
Pyrotechnics
by
DR. HERBERT ELLERN
formerly Staff Scientist
UMC Industries Inc.
St. Louis, Mo.
CHEMICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY INC.
New York 1968
© 1968
Chemical Publishing Company, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
Foreword and Acknowledgments
Modern Pyrotechnics (1961) was the first pyrotechnic primer and
collection of up-to-date information in the English language—written
mainly in order to help the newcomer to the field of military pyrotech-
nics. Judging from the many comments I have received, it served this
purpose well.
This book retains the basic approach and framework of my first
book. The subject matter has been greatly enlarged as indicated by the
increase in the number of formulas from 91 to 201, the addition of
numerous tables, and a near-doubling of the references—from 354 to
about 700. The subjects treated in the first book are presented in greater
detail and, of course, with addition of new information from the years
1961 to 1966. Some of the subjects that formerly were under security
restrictions—now lifted or relaxed—could be added, though not all in
full detail. A special effort was made to enlarge on the commercial,
or as I would rather call it, civilian, aspects of modern pyrotechnics.
These concern the subject of matches, fireworks, the thermite process,
and certain minor devices. An additional feature is a special chapter on
spontaneous ignition of common materials and one on the dispersion
of chemical agents, such as tear gas and insecticides. It has also been
possible to add, with discretion, some of the matter on clandestine
activities from and since World War II—a subject that has been part of
my and my company's effort.
Ever since I became engaged in the match industry (1937) and con-
cerned with the chemistry of matches—specifically the safety book
match—I have considered this seemingly commonplace prime ignition
source as the most fascinating phenomenon of pyrotechnics. And
since this subject is not found in the generally accessible literature,
except under the historical aspect, and the chemistry of matches is ra-
ther obscure even to chemists, the chapter on matches has been greatly
enlarged. As to fireworks for pleasure, I became convinced that a book
on pyrotechnics, without some details on this subject, might disappoint
many readers. Since here my specific knowledge is extremely limited,
vi FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I had to ask for help. Chapter 17 on fireworks was written by the Re-
verend Ronald Lancaster, amateur pyrotechnician and consultant to a
firework manufacturer, Pains-Wessex Ltd., Salisbury, England. Only
a few minor alterations and interpolations were added by me. The
formulas on the subject contributed by Mr. Lancaster should be of
special interest since up-to-date formulas connected with commercial
interests are generally hard or impossible to come by.
Otherwise, the profusion of facts and figures that I present in this
book are a combination of experience, literature study, and advice from
others. In World War II, my company, Universal Match Corporation
of St. Louis, Missouri (now UMC Industries, Inc.), became engaged in
such activities as comminution of magnesium and manufacture of color-
ed flame signals and other military devices—all of which broadened my
pyrochemical knowledge. Since the Korean War, both production and
development work added greatly to the diversification of my personal
experience when for many years I directed the research and develop-
ment effort of the then newly-founded Armament Division. A branch
of the latter is now the Unidynamics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, of
which I was staff scientist and consultant until my retirement in the
summer of 1967.
The reader will have little difficulty in discriminating between those
subjects of the military pyrotechnic field, in which I speak from per-
sonal experience, and those where I had to rely all or in part on infor-
mation by others. However, a book written by one person, in my
opinion, permits a greatly preferable, comprehensive and cohesive
approach, even though some unevenness must be tolerated. The other
way is to present a subject as "written with a pair of scissors," as
German publishers used to call it, i.e. as a collection of perhaps com-
petent but more-or-less disjointed articles, often leaving other areas of
the field unmentioned.
A number of people and organizations have helped my effort in a
variety of ways. UMC Industries, Inc., with whom I was affiliated for
over a quarter century, has supported the preparation of the manuscript
to such a generous extent that it could be completed in little more than a
year. During this period, the untiring effort of my secretary, Mrs.
Ruth Levine, extended far beyond typing and retyping, and included
most of the burden of checking on references, patent numbers, and the
other tedious by-play of getting out the final typed copy. Mrs. Mae
Chaudet, librarian of Unidynamics, St. Louis Division of UMC Indus-
tries, Inc., has been most helpful in procuring an unending stream of
FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii
printed information.
The manuscript was read and scrutinized by my friend and former
colleague, Mr. E.R. Lake, now of McDonnell Company, St. Louis,
Mo., and by my son, Lt. James B. Ellern, USN, now (1966) USNR,
and a graduate student in chemistry at the California Institute of Tech-
nology, Pasadena, California. These two helped me to eliminate mis-
takes, numerous faults of style, and—alas!—many Germanisms, es-
pecially long phrases. The reader will have to bear with those faults of
"foreign accent" of the written variety that only a superior stylist can
overcome when he acquires a new country and a new language at the
midpoint of his life.
Several people in industry and government have been specifically
helpful. Detailed information that was of value for incorporation in
the text was received from the following, to whom my gratitude is here-
with extended: J. H. Deppeler, Vice President and General Manager,
Thermex Metallurgical, Inc.; B. E. Douda, Research Branch, NAD,
Crane; Dr. R. Evans, Denver Research Institute; Ronald G. Hall,
Technical Director, Brocks Fireworks, Ltd.; J. F. Sachse, Vice Presi-
dent, Metals Disintegrating Corp.; H. E. Smith, Product Director,
Reynolds Metal Co.; Garry Weingarten, Feltman Research Laboratori-
es, Picatinny Arsenal.
Even though I have now retired from industry. I will be happy to
receive comments and criticisms at my home address, 25 Shireford
Lane, Ferguson, Mo. 63135, in the hope that this will augment the dual
purpose of the book—to give information and to stimulate future
research and development.
November, 1967 Herbert Ellern
Table of Contents
Chapter Page
Foreword and Acknowledgments v
List of Tables and Figures xii
PART I—GENERAL OUTLINE
1. Definition and Scope 3
2. The Literature of Pyrotechnics 7
PART II—PRIMARY FLAME AND GLOW
3. General Remarks 17
4. Self-Igniting Hydrides and Their Uses 19
5. Self-Flammable Metal-Organic Compounds 23
6. White Phosphorus 26
7. Miscellaneous Pyrophoric Substances 28
8. Mechanically-Induced Pyrophoricity 34
9. Spontaneous Ignition of Common Materials 36
10. Self-Igniting Fuel-Oxidizer Systems 41
11. Primers 53
Note (Complex Salts) 61
12. Matches 64
Note (Water Vapor Transmission) 82
PART III—LIGHT
13. Underlying Phenomena 87
14. Production of White Light 99
15. Flash Charges 115
16. Colored Lights 122
17. Fireworks 131
PART IV—AEROSOLS (Smoke and Dispersed Agents)
18. Screening and Signaling Smokes 147
19. Dispersion of Chemical Agents 160
PART V—KINETIC ENERGY
20. Creation and Uses of Nonspecific Gases 167
ix
x CONTENTS
PART VI—NOISE
21. Explosive and Whistling Sound 181
PART VII—HEAT PRODUCTION PER SE
22. Uses of Heat 187
23. First Fires and Igniters 189
24. Delay Trains 197
Note (Statistics) 213
25. Fire Starting and Fire Setting 216
26. Heating Devices 224
27. High-Temperature Flames 230
PART VIII—CHEMICAL PRODUCTION
28. Introduction 235
29. Gas Production 236
Note (Alkali Chlorates) 241
30. Solid Products 244
PART IX—BASIC BEHAVIOR AND PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
31. Introduction 253
32. Nonspecific Properties of Materials 255
33. Phase Changes 264
34. Caloric Output 273
35. Reactivity—Wanted and Unwanted 290
Note (Safety) 307
36. Binders and Other Accessory Materials 312
PART X—SPECIFIC MATERIALS
37. General Remarks 321
38. Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium 322
39. Carbon and Carbonaceous Fuels 324
40. Boron and Silicon 326
41. Magnesium and Aluminum 328
42. Titanium and Zirconium 332
43. Halates and Perhalates 335
44. Nitrates 339
45. List of Government Specifications 341
PART XI—A FORMULARY OF PYROTECHNICS
46. Introduction 351
47. Formulas . 353
CONTENTS xi
PART XII—THE LANGUAGE OF PYROTECHNICS
48. On Style and Words 391
49. Glossary 393
PART XIII—AFTERMATH; AFTERTHOUGHTS
50. Aftermath 411
51. Afterthoughts 418
References 421
Index 457
List of Tables
No. Title Page
1. Spontaneously Ignitible Metal-Organic Compounds 24
2. Ratio of Volume of Oxide to Volume of Element 29
3. Reactions of Alkali Metals and Water 44
4. Water Vapor Transmission of Plastic Films 82
5. Visual Temperature Phenomena of Solid Bodies 88
6. Wavelength Ranges and Radiant Emission 89
7. Brightness and Luminous Efficiency of a True "Black Body"
at High Temperatures 90
8. Variations of Emissivity with Wavelength and Temperature.. 91
9. Influence of Oxidizer on "Specific Integral Light Output" ... 94
10. Illuminating Characteristics with Variation in Component
Ratio 95
11. Light Output from High-Intensity Flare Candles 107
12. Photoflash Cartridges and Bombs 117
13. Dyes for Colored Smokes 154
14. Fuse Trains 208
15. Melting and Boiling Points of Elements 266
16. Melting and Boiling Points of Oxides 267
17. Melting and Boiling Points of Halides and Chalcogenides ...268
18. Approximate Melting Points of Refractory Compounds 269
19. Melting Points of Nitrates and Their Eutectics 271
20. Heat of Combustion of Elements in Oxygen 277
21. Heat of Combustion of Various Materials 278
22. Thermitic Combinations of Elements with Oxides 281
23. Heat Values of Boron or Zirconium with Barium Chromate
or Calcium Chromate 283
24. Chalcogenide Formation 285
25. Elements and Nitrates 286
26. Elements with Chlorates or Perchlorates 287
27. Neutralizing Reactions 289
28. Ignition Temperature 296
29. Initiation Temperatures of Binary Mixtures 288
30. Initiation Temperatures of Various Mixtures 298
31. Melting and Decomposition Temperatures of Various
Oxidizers ...................................................................................299
List of Figures
1. Spectral Emissivity of a Typical Refractory Metal 91
2. Influence of Alkali on Radiant Energy Distribution 96
3. Nearly Normal Distribution of Delay Times for a Fuze
Production 212
4. Moderately Skewed Distribution of Delay Times for a Fuze
Production 213
xii
Part I
General Outline
