Types of Fireworks and How the Pyrotechnics Work (original) (raw)

Most people in the United States have experienced fireworks at some point. Two common pyrotechnic devices that many are familiar with are sparklers and firecrackers. Understanding these light consumer fireworks is key to comprehending the workings of aerial fireworks and other fireworks effects.

Firecrackers

Firecrackers have been a part of human culture for centuries. They are made of either black powder (gunpowder) or flash powder, enclosed in a tight paper tube with a fuse to ignite the powder.

Black powder, discussed briefly in How Rocket Engines Work, consists of charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, while some compositions may include aluminum to brighten the explosion.

Sparklers

Sparklers, on the other hand, are very different from firecrackers. A sparkler burns over a long period of time (up to a minute) and produces extremely bright and showery light. Sparklers are often referred to as "snowball sparklers" because of the ball of sparks that surrounds the burning portion of the sparkler.

If you look at Patent #3,862,865: Sparkler composition, you can see that a sparkler consists of several different compounds:

• A fuel
• An oxidizer
• Iron or steel powder
• A binder

The fuel is charcoal and sulfur, and the binder can be sugar or starch. Mixed with water, these chemicals form a slurry that can be coated on a wire (by dipping) or poured into a tube.

Once it dries, you have a sparkler. When you light it, the sparkler burns from one end to the other (like a cigarette). The fuel and oxidizer are proportioned, along with the other chemicals, so that the sparkler burns slowly rather than exploding like a firecracker.

It is very common for fireworks to contain aluminum, iron, steel, zinc or magnesium dust in order to create bright, shimmering sparks. The metal flakes heat up until they are incandescent and shine brightly or, at a high enough temperature, actually burn. A variety of chemicals can be added to create colors.