5 replies to this topic

[Anubis386]

** Fore not ** I'm new to pyrotechnics **

I was talking to one of my dad's friends (he does fireworks displays) a couple of days ago about adding colour to my fountains and he suggested using Strontium nitrate for a red colorant.

Having never heard of it I went to wiki and found it indeed is a red colorant and that it also produces Nitrogen dioxide which is a pretty poisonous gas.

Now my question is: If I use Strontium nitrate as a red colorant in my fountains will I need to worry about this Nitrogen dioxide?

And does anyone else use it for anything ... also your general input on colorants would be wonderful

[newtoolsmith]

Dont worry, theres no danger is you use it in fountain formulas.

I went to wiki too and read it. What is ment is, that it will produce NO2 if it is heated alone, without fuels.

The fuels in your fountain will eat up the oxygen and nearly no NO2 will be produced.

MfG
newtoolsmith

[fishy1]

Yep, you'll be fine. Although many comps could in theory give off really nasty stuff, e.g HCN from a mix of kno3 and charcoal, it doesn't really happen, at least not in dangerous quantities. The worst smoke I get is sulphur dioxide, which makes breathing difficult and smells funny and could kill you if you inhaled alot of it.

[Anubis386]

O good, well thats a relief ... I though I would have to break out the gas mask. Have you ever used it?

Also, how reactive is it? If I mix it with my B.P it won't make it more sensitive to anything will it?

[Frozentech]

** Fore not ** I'm new to pyrotechnics **

I was talking to one of my dad's friends (he does fireworks displays) a couple of days ago about adding colour to my fountains and he suggested using Strontium nitrate for a red colorant.

Having never heard of it I went to wiki and found it indeed is a red colorant and that it also produces Nitrogen dioxide which is a pretty poisonous gas.

Now my question is: If I use Strontium nitrate as a red colorant in my fountains will I need to worry about this Nitrogen dioxide?

And does anyone else use it for anything ... also your general input on colorants would be wonderful

Sr(NO3)2 is an extremely common red colorant in pyrotechnics. When used in pyro, it acts as both a color agent and an oxidizer, so without knowing the exact stochiometry, I believe that NO2 is not one of the major gases produced when it is used as such. In any event there are numerous gases produced in a typical pyrotechnic flame, from from CN to CO, NO2, and various others you do not want to get a deep breath of.

One thing to watch out for is that Sr(NO3)2 is hygroscopic, and compositions using it are more difficult to dry, and keep dry. Strontium Carbonate is also widely used, and is easier to work with.

[Creepin_pyro]

As Frozentech said, Strontium Nitrate is very widely used. From yellow through purple formulas for coloured stars, to go-getters, sparklers, fountains, drivers, rockets, and even some more high energy compositions. My favourite use for it is in 'Independance' or 'ruby red' stars, and in red rocket propellant.

If you want to add a red colour to your fountains, it's not quite as simple as adding some Sr(NO3)2 to your BP. You have the option of adding red microstars to a basic fountain mix, using a red driver composition, or something along the lines of this red Titanium fountain.

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 11 January 2007 - 11:32 PM.