The Magical

World of

Fireworks

Introduction of

Fireworks

A Brief History

Even before special occasions such as New Year’s Day, everyone has been preparing to

launch the much-awaited light spectacle in the night sky – the Fireworks. These amazing,

magical fireworks never fail to excite and amaze people of all ages with its bombastic and

sparkling display of color and light.

But have you ever wondered how this magic works? When and where it was invented?

And what components does it have to make it burst into different colors?

Legend tells of a Chinese cook who accidentally spilled saltpeter into a cooking fire,

producing an interesting flame. Saltpeter, an ingredient in gunpowder, was sometimes used as a

flavoring salt. The other gunpowder ingredients, charcoal and sulfur, were also common in early

fires. When the mixture was burned with a little flame, it exploded if it was enclosed in a

bamboo tube.

Rocket propulsion was common in warfare, as evidenced by the Huolongjing compiled

by Liu Ji (1311–1375) and Jiao Yu (fl. c. 1350–1412).[8] In 1240 the Arabs acquired knowledge

of gunpowder and its uses from China. A Syrian named Hasan al-Rammah wrote of rockets,

fireworks, and other incendiaries, using terms that suggested he derived his knowledge from

Chinese sources, such as his references to fireworks as "Chinese flowers".[9][1]

This surprising invention of gunpowder which appears to have happened about 2000

years ago, produced exploding firecrackers later during the Song dynasty (960-1279) by a

Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liu Yang in Hunan Province. These

firecrackers were bamboo shoots filled with gunpowder. They were exploded with a loud noise

known as "gung pow" or "bian pao" at the commencement of the New Year to scare away evil

spirits. By the 15th century, fireworks were a traditional part of other celebrations, such as

military victories and weddings. In 1110, a large fireworks display in a martial demonstration

was held to entertain Emperor Huizong of Song (1100–1125) and his court.

In 1240, the Arabs acquired knowledge of gunpowder and its uses from China. A Syrian

named Hasan al-Rammah wrote of rockets and fireworks and coined the term "Chinese

flowers".Arabians in the 7th century referred to rockets as Chinese arrows. Marco Polo was

credited with bringing gunpowder to Europe in the 13th century.

Most of the fireworks are made in the same way today as they were hundreds of years

ago. However, some modifications have been made. In 2004, Disneyland in California starting

launching fireworks using compressed air rather than gunpowder. Electronic timers were used to

explode the shells. That was the first time the launch system was used commercially, allowing

for increased accuracy in timing so that fireworks shows could be blended in with music, and

reducing smoke and fumes from big displays.

Exploding firecracker

A firecracker (cracker, noise maker, banger, or bunger) is a small explosive device primarily

designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual

effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper casing to

contain the explosive compound. Firecrackers, along with fireworks, originated in China.

Contents

  [show] 

History[edit]

See also: History of gunpowder

An illustration of a fireworks display from the 1628–1643 edition of the Ming Dynasty novel Jin

Ping Mei.

The predecessor of the firecracker was a type of heated bamboo, used as early as 200 BC, that

exploded when heated continuously. The Chinese name for firecrackers, baozhu, literally means

"exploding bamboo."[2] After the invention of gunpowder, gunpowder firecrackers had a shape

that resembled bamboo and produced a similar sound, so the name "exploding bamboo" was

retained.[3] In traditional Chinese culture, firecrackers were used to scare off evil spirits.

Contents of firecrackers

Firecrackers are generally made of cardboard or plastic, with flash powder or black powder as

the propellant. This is not always the case, however. Anything from match heads to lighter fluid

have been used successfully in making firecrackers. The key to loud firecrackers, however,

although in part lying in the propellant substance, is pressure. The entire firecracker must be very

tightly packed in order for it to work best. Flash powder does not need to be packed tightly,

however.

How firecrackers were made

Dyer Ball on firecrackers

James Dyer Ball, in his book Things Chinese, has a detail description about the process and

material used for making firecracker at the end of 19th century. At that time, firecrackers were

made by women and children workers, using straw paper to make the body of the firecracker,

while the fuse was made of bamboo paper imported from Japan, then stiffened with buckwheat

paste. The bamboo paper was cut into strips of 14 inches (360 mm) long and 1⁄3 inches (8.5 mm)

wide, laid on a table; a string of gunpowder was placed at the center with a hollow tube, then

twisted up to make a piece of fuse. The firecracker tubes were made from pieces of straw paper

wrapped around iron rods of various diameters then tightened with a special tool. 200 to 300

firecrackers were tied up in a bunch, then red clay was spread at the bottom of the bunch, and

forced into each end of the firecracker with a punch; gunpowder was poured into it, then the

other end was sealed with an awl by turning the tube inward, and a fuse inserted.[4]

Culture

Two men dressed as colonial soldiers carry a banner, exploding firecrackers,

commemorating Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators as part of Lewes Bonfire Night

celebrations.

Firecrackers are commonly used in celebration of holidays or festivals, such as Chinese New

Year, Halloween,Independence Day (also known as the 4th of July) in the United States of

America, Diwali in India, Tihar in Nepal, Day of Ashura in Morocco, Guy Fawkes Night or

bonfire night in the United Kingdom, Skyfest in Ireland, Bastille day in France, and

Spanish Fallas, in almost every cultural festival of Sri Lanka (e.g. Sri Lankan new year),

and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Purim in Israel, and especially the celebration

of Chinese New Year by Chinese communities around the world.

Legality of firecrackers

Firecrackers, as well as other types of explosives, are subject to various laws in many countries,

although firecrackers themselves are not usually considered illegal contraband material. It is

usually the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of firecrackers that are subject to laws including

safety requirements for manufacture, the requirement of a permit to sell or store, or restrictions

on the use of firecrackers.

Firecracker ban

The use of firecrackers, although a traditional part of celebration, has over the years led to many

injuries. There have been incidents every year of users being blinded, losing body parts, or

suffering other injuries, especially during festivities that customarily involve firecrackers such as

Chinese New Year season. Hence, many governments and authoritarians have enacted laws

completely banning the sale or use of firecrackers, or banning the use of firecrackers in the street,

primarily because of safety issues.

Australia – Australia, with the exception of its capital territory (ACT) and the Northern

Territory, does not permit the use of fireworks, except by a licensed pyrotechnician. These

rules also require a permit from local government, as well as any relevant local bodies such

as maritime or aviation authorities (as relevant to the types of fireworks being used) and

hospitals, schools, et cetera, within a certain range.

Canada - Firecrackers are not authorized under the Explosives Act, thus making importation,

possession, transportation, storage, or manufacturing illegal in Canada.[5] Canada banned

firecrackers on September 27, 1972 after it came out in the media that two children were

killed and three others severely burned when some older children were playing with

firecrackers outside their tent. False rumours have been spread that the children inside the

tent had actually been smoking and, not wanting to tell their parents, had told them they had

been playing with firecrackers. This report is incorrect. One of the surviving burn victims has

researched and documented the events of that night and has included some of these details in

his autobiography.[7] Fireworks, however are still legal to buy for anyone 18 years of age or

over.

Mainland China – As of 2008, most urban areas in mainland China permit firecrackers. In

the first three days of the traditional New Year, it is a tradition that people compete with each

other by playing with firecrackers. However, many urban areas banned them in the 1990s.

For example, they were banned in Beijing's urban districts from 1993 to 2005. In 2004, 37

people were killed in a stampede when four million[9] people gathered for a rumored Lantern

Festival firework display in nearby Miyun. Since the ban was lifted, the firecracker barrage

has been tremendous. An unusual feature is that many residents in major cities look down on

street-level fireworks from their tower blocks. Bans are rare in rural areas.

Hong Kong – Fireworks are banned for security reasons – some speculate a connection

between firework use and the 1967 Leftist Riot. However, the government would stage a

fireworks display in Victoria Harbour on the second day of the Chinese New Year. Similar

displays are also held in many other cities in and outside China.

Indonesia – Firecrackers and fireworks are forbidden in public during the Chinese New Year,

especially in areas with significant non-Chinese population to avoid conflict between the

two. However, there were some exceptions. The usage of firecrackers is legal in some

metropolitan areas such as Jakarta andMedan, where the degree of racial and cultural

tolerance is higher.

Italy – Firecrackers are legal and can be bought without a licence.

Malaysia – firecrackers are banned for similar reasons as in Singapore. However, many

Malaysians smuggle them from Thailand.

Norway - The government of Norway decided to ban rockets shortly after 2009 started.

Other types of fireworks are still allowed.

Philippines – Fireworks and firecrackers are widely available throughout the Philippines, but

are banned in Olongapo City (since 2008)[11] and Davao City(since 2001).

Republic of Ireland - Fireworks and firecrackers are not permitted in the Republic of Ireland

however many people smuggle them from Northern Ireland where they are legal. They are

most common around Halloween.

Singapore – a partial ban on firecrackers was imposed in March 1970 after a fire killed six

people and injured 68. This was extended to a total ban in August 1972, after an explosion

that killed two peopleand an attack on two police officers attempting to stop a group from

letting off firecrackers in February 1972.[14] However, in 2003, the government allowed

firecrackers to be set off during the festive season. At the Chinese New Year light-up

inChinatown, at the stroke of midnight on the first day of the Lunar New Year, firecrackers

are set off under controlled conditions by the Singapore Tourism Board. Other occasions

where firecrackers are allowed to be set off are determined by the tourism board or other

government organizations. However, their sale is not allowed.

Sweden - Only rocket type fireworks are allowed in Sweden. The ban of fire crackers was

done by the EU Parliament and Swedish government 1 December 2001

Taiwan – Beginning 2008, firecrackers are banned in urban areas, but still allowed in rural

areas.

United Kingdom - In 1997, firecrackers became illegal but most other consumer fireworks

are legal.

United States – In 2007, New York City lifted its decade-old ban on firecrackers, allowing a

display of 300,000 firecrackers to be set off in Chinatown'sChatham Square. Under the

supervision of the fire and police departments, Los Angeles regularly lights firecrackers

every New Year's Eve, mostly at temples and the shrines of benevolent associations. The San

Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, the largest outside China, is accompanied by numerous

firecrackers, both officially sanctioned and illicit.

Firecracker brands, packs and labels

Early (pre-1920s) Chinese firecrackers (AKA Mandarin firecrackers) were typically 1⁄2 to 2

inches (13 to 51 mm) long, and approximately 1⁄4 inches (6.4 mm) in diameter, and were charged

with black powder. Mandarin crackers produced a less loud, a duller thud, compared to modern

flash light crackers (which utilize a different explosive known as flash powder). Mandarin

crackers produced a dimmer, less brilliant flash when they exploded also. Individual Mandarin

crackers were most often braided into "strings" of varying lengths, which when ignitied,

exploded in rapid sequence. Generally, the strings (sometimes containing as many as several

thousand crackers) would be hung from an overhead line before ignition. Most Mandarin

crackers were colored all red and did not generally have designs or logos decorating their

exterior surface (AKA "shell wraps"). Occasionally a few yellow and green Mandarin crackers

were created and would be braided into the predominantly all red strings, to symbolize the

emperor and the ruling class, while the numerous red crackers symbolized the common man.

A firecracker roll containing 10,000 fire crackers

Once flash powder, which produces a significantly sharper and brighter bang, replaced black

powder as a firecracker's explosive charge (circa 1924) manufacturers began competing to gain

loyalty of the consumers (that is, mainly boys 8–16 years of age). Thousands of brands were

created during the flash light cracker's heyday from the 1920s through the early 1970s. Only a

small percentage of brands lasted more than a year or two. Collectors now seek the various labels

from the era.[17]

Until the mid-1980s firecracker production was low-tech. They were handmade, beginning with

rolling tubes. Once the firecracker tubes were rolled by hand (commonly from newspaper) and

labelled, and then filled with powder, their ends were crimped and fuses inserted, all by hand.

These finished firecrackers were usually braided into "strings" and sold in packs which came in

many sizes, from the very small (called "penny packs" containing as few as 4 to 6 firecrackers)

to the most common size packs (containing 16 and 20 crackers per pack), to larger packs

(containing 24, 30, 32, 40, 50, 60, 72, 90, 100, and 120 firecrackers), to huge "belts" and "rolls"

(packages containing strings of several hundred to several thousand crackers - Phantom

Fireworks sells rolls as large as 16,000 firecrackers[18]). Firecracker packages were wrapped in

colourful and translucent glassine paper, as well as clear cellophane, with glassine the most

popular.

The final operation involved applying a branded label on each pack, then bundling finished

packs into wholesale lots called "bricks" which contained an average of 80 packs each (varying

according to the size of the packs being bundled. For example, packs of 32 crackers might have

40 packs per brick, compared to packs of 16 or 20 with 80 packs per brick).

Process in

making Fireworks

Different Types of

Fireworks and its

Components

Firecrackers

Firecrackers are the original fireworks.

n their simplest form, firecrackers consists of gunpowder wrapped in paper, with a fuse.

Gunpowder consists of 75% potassium nitrate (KNO3), 15% charcoal (carbon) or sugar, and

10% sulfur. The materials will react with each other when enough heat is applied. Lighting the

fuse supplies the Iheat to light a firecracker. The charcoal or sugar is the fuel.

Potassium nitrate is the oxidizer, and sulfur moderates the reaction. Carbon from the

charcoal or sugar plus oxygen from the air and the potassium nitrate forms carbon dioxide and

energy. Potassium nitrate, sulfur, and carbon react to form nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases and

potassium sulfide. The pressure from the expanding nitrogen and carbon dioxide explode the

paper wrapper of a firecracker. The loud bang is the pop of the wrapper being blown apart.

Sparklers

A sparkler consists of a chemical mixture that is molded onto a rigid stick or wire. These

chemicals often are mixed with water to form a slurry that can be coated on a wire by dipping or

poured into a tube. Once the mixture dries, you have a sparkler.

Aluminum, iron, steel, zinc or magnesium dust or flakes may be used to create the bright,

shimmering sparks. An example of a simple sparkler recipe consists of potassium perchlorate

and dextrin, mixed with water to coat a stick, then dipped in aluminum flakes. 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. The fuel and oxidizer, along with the

other chemicals, are proportioned so that the sparkler burns slowly rather than exploding like a

firecracker. Once one end of the sparkler is ignited, it burns progressively to the other end.

Rockets & Aerial Shells

Aerial shells are the fireworks that are shot into the sky to explode and burst off color and

light. Some modern fireworks are launched using compressed air as a propellent and exploded

using an electronic timer, but most aerial shells remain launched and exploded using gunpowder.

Gunpowder-based aerial shells essentially function like two-stage rockets:

The first stage of an aerial shell is a tube containing gunpowder, that is lit with a fuse

much like a large firecracker. The difference is that the gunpowder is used to propel the firework

into the air rather than explode the tube. There is a hole at the bottom of the firework so the

expanding nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases launch the firework into the sky.

The second stage of the aerial shell is a package of gunpowder, more oxidizer, and

colorants. The packing of the components determines the shape of the firework

This is a simple shell used in an aerial fireworks display. The blue balls are the stars, and the

gray is black powder. The powder is packed into the center tube, which is the bursting charge. It

is also sprinkled between the stars to help ignite them.

Simple shells consist of a paper tube filled with stars and black powder. Stars come in all shapes

and sizes, but you can imagine a simple star as something like sparkler compound formed into a

ball the size of a pea or a dime. The stars are poured into the tube and then surrounded by black

powder. When the fuse burns into the shell, it ignites the bursting charge, causing the shell to

explode. The explosion ignites the outside of the stars, which begin to burn with bright showers

of sparks. Since the explosion throws the stars in all directions, you get the huge sphere of

sparkling light.

The components of a modern firework include, from bottom to top, the following: launch

tube, lift charge, fuse, black powder, break, stars, time delay fuse. The launch tube is the steel

tube on the ground from which the firework shell is launched. The lift charge is the explosive at

the bottom of the firework shell that propels the shell into the air. The fuse consists of wires that

connect the firework to a master control board; electrical current moves across the wires to create

a spark at the point of contact. Black powder is made up of potassium nitrate, charcoal (carbon),

and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio by weight. Breaks are the separate compartments in a firework

shell that contain a charge and stars. Stars are lumps made out of perchlorate, black powder, and

the chemical compounds that create the various colors of fireworks. The time delay fuses are the

fuses that burn down to the breaks and stars as the firework shell moves through the air.

Chemistry

Behind

Processes involved in

Making Fireworks

The processes that involve in the emission of light by fireworks are incandescence (or the

black body radiation) which is followed by first the atomic emission and then finally the

molecular emission that brings about the colorful emission:

Incadescence (Black Body Radiation)

The thermal radiation from a black body, an idealized physical body that absorbs all

incident electromagnetic radiation, is energy-converted electrodynamically from the body's pool

of internal thermal energy at any temperature greater than absolute zero. It is called blackbody

radiation and has a frequency distribution with a characteristic frequency of maximum radiative

power that shifts to higher frequencies with increasing temperature. As the temperature increases

past a few hundred degrees Celsius, black bodies start to emit visible wavelengths, appearing

red, orange, yellow, white, and blue with increasing temperature. When an object is visually

white, it is emitting a substantial fraction as ultraviolet radiation.

Atomic emission

The process by which atoms emit certain, prefered wavelengths of electromagnetic

radiation. An atomic emission spectrum is made up only of a few lines of colour. The atomic

emission spectra are produced by thin gases in which the atoms do not experience many

collisions (because of the low density). The emission lines correspond to photons of discrete

energies that are emitted when excited atomic states in the gas make transitions back to lower-

lying levels.

Molecular emission

Molecular emission is the mechanism behind the sulfur lamp and the deuterium arc lamp.

The energy of a molecule can also change via rotational, vibrational, and vibronic transitions.

These energy transitions often lead to closely spaced groups of many different spectral lines,

known as spectral bands. Unresolved band spectra may appear as a spectral continuum. The

molecular emission spectrum of a chemical element or chemical compound is the spectrum of

frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the element's atoms or the compound's

molecules when they are returned to a lower energy state.

Creating Colors

And Light

Creating firework color requires considerable art and application of science. There are

two main mechanisms of color production in fireworks, incandescence and luminescence:

Incandescence

Incandescence is light produced from heat. Heat causes a substance to become hot and glow,

initially emitting infrared, then red, orange, yellow, and white light as it becomes increasingly

hotter. When the temperature of a firework is controlled, the glow of components, such as

charcoal, can be manipulated to be the desired color (temperature) at the proper time. Metals,

such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, burn very brightly and are useful for increasing the

temperature of the firework.

Luminescence

Luminescence is light produced using energy sources other than heat. Sometimes luminescence

is called 'cold light', because it can occur at room temperature and cooler temperatures. To

produce luminescence, energy is absorbed by an electron of an atom or molecule, causing it to

become excited, but unstable. When the electron returns to a lower energy state the energy is

released in the form of a photon (light). The energy of the photon determines its wavelength or

color.

Sometimes the salts needed to produce the desired color are unstable. Barium chloride (green) is

unstable at room temperatures, so barium must be combined with a more stable compound (e.g.,

chlorinated rubber). In this case, the chlorine is released in the heat of the burning of the

pyrotechnic composition, to then form barium chloride and produce the green

color. Copper chloride (blue), on the other hand, is unstable at high temperatures, so the firework

cannot get too hot, yet must be bright enough to be seen.

Firework Colorants

Colors Elements Compounds

Intense Red Strontium SrCO3 (strontium carbonate)

Medium Red Lithium LiCl (lithium chloride)

Li2CO3 (lithium carbonate)

Orange Calcium CaCl2 (calcium chloride)

Yellow Soidum NaNO3 (sodium nitrate)

Cryolite, Na3AlF6

Green Barium BaCl2 (barium chloride)

Blue Copper CuCl2 (copper chloride) at low

temperature

Turqouise Blue Copper CuCl (copper (I) chloride)

Indigo Cesium CsNO3 (cesium nitrate)

Violet Potassium KNO3 (potassium nitrate)

Red-Violet Rubidium RbNO3 (rubidium nitrate)

Gold Incandescence of iron (with carbon), charcoal, or lampblack

White Titanium, Aluminum, Beryllium, or Magnesium powders

Silver Burning Aluminum, Titanium, or Magnesium powder

Elements used

in making

Fireworks

Aluminum

Used to produce silver and white flames and sparks. It is a common component of sparklers.

Antimony

Used to create firework glitter effects.

Barium

Used to create green colors in fireworks, and it can also help stabilize other volatile elements.

Calcium

Used to deepen firework colors. Calcium salts produce orange fireworks.

Carbon

One of the main components of black powder, which is used as a propellent in fireworks. Carbon

provides the fuel for a firework. Common forms include carbon black, sugar, or starch.

Chlorine

An important component of many oxidizers in fireworks. Several of the metal salts that produce

colors contain chlorine.

Copper

Its compounds produce blue colors in fireworks.

Iron

Used to produce sparks. The heat of the metal determines the color of the sparks.

Lithium

A metal that is used to impart a red color to fireworks. Lithium carbonate, in particular, is a

common colorant.

Magnesium

Burns a very bright white, so it is used to add white sparks or improve the overall brilliance of a

firework.

Oxygen

Fireworks include oxidizers, which are substances that produce oxygen in order for burning to

occur. The oxidizers are usually nitrates, chlorates, or perchlorates. Sometimes the same

substance is used to provide oxygen and color.

Phosphorus

Burns spontaneously in air and is also responsible for some glow-in-the-dark effects. It may be a

component of a firework's fuel.

Potassium

Helps to oxidize firework mixtures. Potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, and potassium

perchlorate are all important oxidizers.

Sodium

Imparts a gold or yellow color to fireworks, however, the color may be so bright that it masks

less intense colors.

Sulfur

A component of black powder. It is found in a firework's propellant/fuel.

Strontium

Its salts impart a red color to fireworks. Strontium compounds are also important for stabilizing

fireworks mixtures.

Titanium

Its metal can be burned as powder or flakes to produce silver sparks.

Zinc

Used to create smoke effects for fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices.

Different

Fireworks

Displays

The pattern that an aerial shell paints in the sky depends on the arrangement of star

pellets inside the shell. To create a specific figure in the sky, you create an outline of the figure

in pellets, surround them as a group with a layer of break charge to separate them simultaneously

from the rest of the contents of the shell, and place explosive chargesinside those pellets to blow

them outward into a large figure. Each charge has to be ignited at exactly the right time.

Palm: Contains large comets, or charges in the shape of a solid cylinder, that travel outward,

explode and then curve downward like the limbs of a palm tree

Round shell: Explodes in a spherical shape, usually of colored stars

Ring shell: Explodes to produce a symmetrical ring of stars

Willow: Contains stars (high charcoal composition makes them long-burning) that fall in the

shape of willow branches and may even stay visible until they hit the ground

Roundel: Bursts into a circle of maroon shells that explode in sequence

Chrysanthemum: Bursts into a spherical pattern of stars that leave a visible trail, with an effect

somewhat suggestive of the flower

Pistil: Like a chrysanthemum shell, but has a core that is a different color from the outer stars

Maroon shell: Makes a loud bang

Serpentine: Bursts to send small tubes of incendiaries skittering outward in random paths,

which may culminate in exploding stars