Die Technik hinter Farben und Formen im Feuerwerk

The technology behind colors and shapes in fireworks

Composition of effect charges briefly explained

An effect star or effect charge consists of several functional components. These building blocks together determine the color, spark, and burn time. No details on quantities or mixing methods are given here; only the roles of the components.

  1. Oxidizer
    Oxidizers provide the oxygen for combustion. Historically and technically, the role of the oxidizer is central to allowing the fuel and pigment to react.

  2. fuel
    Fuel provides the energy. In traditional fireworks, the combination of oxidizer and fuel is responsible for the necessary heat and pressure.

  3. Propellant charge or lift charge
    This component ensures that the charge is lifted upwards. It is often constructed differently than the effect charge and must ignite and propel reliably.

  4. Colorants
    These are typically metal compounds or metal salts that produce characteristic emission lines when heated and thus provide color.

  5. Metallic components for sparks and shine
    Pure metals or metal alloys provide sparks, luster, and afterglow. Their physical shape and grain size strongly influence their appearance.

  6. Binder and matrix
    A binder binds the components together to form a solid star. It determines mechanical stability, combustion behavior, and influences the rate of gas release.

  7. Chlorine carriers and additives
    Certain additives improve color stability by creating a suitable combustion atmosphere. They are technically important for achieving pure colors.

Briefly about the basic propellant

The classic basis for many pyrotechnic effects is black powder. It can be said that in many cases, black powder serves the function of providing propellant and oxidizer in a compact combination. However, modern shows often use more specific propellant charges or energetic substances that allow for more controlled trajectories and ignition times. Again, specific compositions and manufacturing processes are safety-relevant and regulated by law.

Influence of grain size on sparks and appearance

Grain size and particle shape are extremely important. In general,

  • Finely ground particles burn faster. They are more likely to produce pure flame colors and short, bright spots.

  • Coarse-grained metal particles glow longer and produce visible spark streaks. They fall more slowly and appear as long trails in the sky.

  • Flat or fibrous particles produce different gloss shapes than spherical particles. The physical shape influences the spray angle and afterglow duration.

For example, a very fine aluminum powder produces a very bright, short glow. Larger aluminum flakes produce pronounced, long sparks.

Common metal detectors and their visual effects

This list is rough and only lists typical metals or metal compounds without specific chemical formulas

  • Strontium produces red tones. It is often used as a pigment for red tones.
  • Barium produces green effects. Barium compounds are widely used in pyrotechnics to achieve green effects.
  • Copper produces blue hues. Blue is technically demanding and sensitive to combustion temperatures.
  • Sodium produces intense yellow colors. Sodium lines quickly dominate the spectrum and are very conspicuous.
  • Calcium Produces orange to reddish hues depending on the environment.
  • Iron produces golden sparks and sparkling, spark-filled effects with larger particles.
  • Aluminum: Very bright white or silvery sparks. Fine aluminum significantly increases the brightness.
  • Titanium produces white, powerful sparks with a long afterglow. Often used for brilliant effects.
  • Magnesium: Very bright white light. Rarely used in large quantities for color, but rather for extreme brightness.
  • Zinc and other alloying components can produce varying effects, especially in combinations.

Combinations and effects

  • Color is usually created by a colorant and suitable combustion conditions. Without a suitable combustion atmosphere, the desired color may not appear or may be masked by bright sodium lines.

  • Sparks are primarily generated by metallic fuels, which are ejected as glowing particles after heating. A careful selection of metal type and grain size produces the desired tail lengths and gloss patterns.

  • Some effects combine dye dispensers with metallic spark dispensers so that a flash of one color is accompanied by spark-rich trails.

Conclusion and safety notice

The visible diversity in fireworks is based on a multitude of technical decisions. Chemical components, grain size, binding agents, and mechanical arrangement determine color, shape, and spark pattern. Practical production and mixing are hazardous and regulated by law. I do not provide instructions or recipes. Licensed pyrotechnicians are the right people to consult for production, application, and handling.

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