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Flash powder
Flash powder is a highly energetic and explosive pyrotechnic composition, a mixture of an oxidizer and a metallic fuel, which burns quickly (deflagrates) and produces a loud noise, regardless of confinement in some formulations. It is widely used in theatrical and display pyrotechnics and consumer fireworks, and was once used for flash photography.
Different varieties of flash powder are made from different compositions; most common are potassium perchlorate and aluminium powder. Early formulations used potassium chlorate instead of potassium perchlorate.
Flash powder compositions are also used in military pyrotechnics when production of large amount of noise or light is required, e.g., stun grenades, battle simulator devices, and photoflash bombs.
Lycopodium powder is a yellow-tan dust-like powder historically used as a flash powder. Today, the principal use of the powder is to create flashes or flames that are large and impressive but relatively easy to manage safely in magic acts and for cinema and theatrical special effects.
Normally, flash powder mixtures are compounded to achieve a particular purpose. These mixtures range from extremely fast-burning mixtures designed to produce a maximum audio report, to mixtures designed to burn slowly and provide large amounts of illumination, to mixtures that were formerly used in photography.[citation needed]
For photography, fuel-rich mixtures containing magnesium and nitrates were used. The excess magnesium is volatilized by the reaction and burns in air providing additional light. In addition, the higher concentration of fuel results in a slower burn, providing more of a "poof" and less of a "bang" when ignited. Various formulas from 1917 include: 1 oz (28 g) potassium nitrate to 1 oz (28 g) magnesium, 2 oz (57 g) magnesium to 0.5 oz (14 g) chrome alum, and 2 oz (57 g) magnesium to 0.5 oz (14 g) potassium chlorate. Fuel rich flash powders are also used in theatrical flash pots.[citation needed]
Magnesium based compositions degrade over long periods, meaning the metallic Mg will slowly react with atmospheric moisture. Commercial photographic flash powders are sold as two-part mixtures, to be combined immediately before use.[citation needed]
The combination of aluminium powder and potassium chlorate is unstable, and a poor choice for flash powder that is to be stored for more than a very short period.[citation needed] For that reason, it has been largely replaced by the potassium perchlorate mixtures.
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Flash powder
Flash powder is a highly energetic and explosive pyrotechnic composition, a mixture of an oxidizer and a metallic fuel, which burns quickly (deflagrates) and produces a loud noise, regardless of confinement in some formulations. It is widely used in theatrical and display pyrotechnics and consumer fireworks, and was once used for flash photography.
Different varieties of flash powder are made from different compositions; most common are potassium perchlorate and aluminium powder. Early formulations used potassium chlorate instead of potassium perchlorate.
Flash powder compositions are also used in military pyrotechnics when production of large amount of noise or light is required, e.g., stun grenades, battle simulator devices, and photoflash bombs.
Lycopodium powder is a yellow-tan dust-like powder historically used as a flash powder. Today, the principal use of the powder is to create flashes or flames that are large and impressive but relatively easy to manage safely in magic acts and for cinema and theatrical special effects.
Normally, flash powder mixtures are compounded to achieve a particular purpose. These mixtures range from extremely fast-burning mixtures designed to produce a maximum audio report, to mixtures designed to burn slowly and provide large amounts of illumination, to mixtures that were formerly used in photography.[citation needed]
For photography, fuel-rich mixtures containing magnesium and nitrates were used. The excess magnesium is volatilized by the reaction and burns in air providing additional light. In addition, the higher concentration of fuel results in a slower burn, providing more of a "poof" and less of a "bang" when ignited. Various formulas from 1917 include: 1 oz (28 g) potassium nitrate to 1 oz (28 g) magnesium, 2 oz (57 g) magnesium to 0.5 oz (14 g) chrome alum, and 2 oz (57 g) magnesium to 0.5 oz (14 g) potassium chlorate. Fuel rich flash powders are also used in theatrical flash pots.[citation needed]
Magnesium based compositions degrade over long periods, meaning the metallic Mg will slowly react with atmospheric moisture. Commercial photographic flash powders are sold as two-part mixtures, to be combined immediately before use.[citation needed]
The combination of aluminium powder and potassium chlorate is unstable, and a poor choice for flash powder that is to be stored for more than a very short period.[citation needed] For that reason, it has been largely replaced by the potassium perchlorate mixtures.
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