Hobbies And Interests
Black Powder
The basic explosive ingredient in all fireworks is black powder, also known as gunpowder. Its composition has not changed much in the 1,000 years since it was invented. Pyrotechnicians use black powder, which is made of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur, for propulsion, ignition and timing, as well as for visual and sound effects. Black powder is classified as a low explosive, because it explodes more slowly than high explosives like dynamite, at a rate of 1/10 of a second per foot.
Stars
An unlit star looks like a small black lump, but when ignited, its chemical components create sparks and colorful flashes of light. Stars are made of precisely measured ingredients (including copper salts for blue light, barium salts for green or magnesium for silver sparks), which are mixed together into a paste, spread out to dry, cut into pieces, and then packed into fireworks.
Noise Effects
Manufacturers pack their fireworks' components in a specific order to create the desired visual and auditory effects. Carefully chosen chemicals produce a firework's noise effects, as well as its lights and colors. For whistle effects, pyrotechnicians typically use potassium perchlorate, sodium salicylate and sodium benzoate, while potassium perchlorate, nitrate oxidizers and aluminum often create the booming or cracking sounds, i.e., the "reports" that occur with the explosion.
Fireworks and Safety
Fireworks can be accidentally detonated with sparks, flames, impact, heat, friction or even water, depending on the chemical compounds that were used in their construction. The American Pyrotechnics Association urges consumers not to attempt to create their own fireworks or tamper with purchased fireworks, and to be cautious when ordering fireworks via the Internet. Even professional fireworks manufacturers treat their products with extreme caution, wearing only cotton clothing to avoid the sparks that can be created by static electricity and synthetic materials.