Twinkling
Green Star #1
Magnesium
reacts slowly with ammonium perchlorate producing ammonia and magnesium
perchlorate, especially in the presence of moisture. Thus, the twinklers
cannot be stored for more than 6 months, and they must be kept in
a closed bag. During the smoulder phase, magnesium reacts with ammonium
perchlorate in the dark. In the flash phase, magnesium reacts with
barium sulfate, producing hot MgO and creating a green flame. The
flash is followed by another cycle, since the flash rapidly consumes
the reactants in the flash zone.
1)
Binder solution: Dissolve 3 parts of nitrocellulose (smokeless powder
or celluloid film) into 30 parts (w/v) of boiling acetone. If you're
going to prepare these stars more than once, prepare more of the solution,
since nitrocellulose dissolves slowly even in refluxing acetone. Approx.
30 parts of the solution (v/w) is used each time. Nitrocellulose is
used as a binder, since other binders tend to interfere with the twinkling.
2) Mix the ingredients into the binder solution in the order they
appear here. Proceed as usual. Note that acetone evaporates very rapidly
and the stars usually dry within a few hours.
Magnesium
powder (any lab grade powder)...........23
Ammonium perchlorate..............................60
Barium sulfate....................................17
Twinkling Green Star #2
Frequency:
3.1 Hz.
Add 25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of
the composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnesium, 60 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....23
Ammonium perchlorate..............................60
Barium sulfate....................................17
Potassium dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Twinkling Green Star #3
Add
25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of the
composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnalium (coated with linseed oil)....................................18
Barium nitrate [40 BHC (Benzene hexachloride)]........................5
Sulfur.....................................................................................30
Antimony trisulfide..............................................................7
Twinkling red star Class:10.................................................50
Twinkling Red Star #1
Magnesium
was treated with cold 10% w/w K2Cr2O7 in deionised water for 2 hours.
Ammonium perchlorate, 100 mesh....................50
Magnesium metal, 120 mesh.........................23
Strontium sulfate, 100 mesh.......................18
Genchlor GC 700-200, 160 mesh.....................2
Winchester DB-231 as grain pwd....................7
Acetone, water free technical.....................+20% (w/w)
Twinkling
Red Star #2
Frequency:
3.5 Hz.
Add 25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of
the composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnesium, 60 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....30
Ammonium perchlorate..............................50
Strontium sulfate.................................20
Potassium
dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Twinkling Red Star #2
Frequency:
3.5 Hz.
Add 25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of
the composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnesium, 60 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....30
Ammonium perchlorate..............................50
Strontium sulfate.................................20
Potassium dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Twinkling White Star #1
The
magnalium needs to be treated with potassium dichromate before mixing.
Barium nitrate....................................51
Sulfur............................................19
Magnalium, 100 Mesh...............................18
Potassium nitrate.................................7
Dextrin...........................................5
Twinkling White Star #2
Frequency: 9.7 Hz.
Add
25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of the
composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnalium, 80 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....25
Ammonium perchlorate..............................60
Barium sulfate....................................15
Potassium dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Twinkling Orange Star
Frequency:
6.9 Hz.
Add 25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of
the composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnesium, 60 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....30
Ammonium perchlorate..............................60
Calcium sulfate...................................10
Potassium dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Twinkling Yellow Star #1
Frequency:
3.5 Hz.
Add 25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of
the composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnesium, 60 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....40
Ammonium perchlorate..............................50
Sodium sulfate....................................10
Potassium dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Twinkling Yellow Star #2
Add
25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of the
composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnalium (coated with linseed oil)...............12
Barium nitrate....................................33
Potassium nitrate.................................7
BHC (Benzene hexachloride)........................11
Sulfur............................................27
Antimony trisulfide...............................5
Sodium oxalate....................................5
Twinkling Blue Star
Add
25 parts 10% nitrocellulose solution in acetone to 100 parts of the
composition, and make cut stars. Roll these stars in "priming
composition #8", using the same NC paste until stars are round.
Add a final layer of black powder in NC paste to ensure ignition.
Magnesium, 60 mesh (treated with potassium bichromate).....23
Ammonium perchlorate..............................60
Copper sulfate....................................17
Potassium dichromate (as a stabilizer)............+5%
Golden Twinkler Star
Bind
with water. The stars fall through the air and burn in an "on
and off" manner. The effect is spectacular.
The stars must be pumped or cut.
Potassium nitrate.................................18
Sulfur............................................3
Lampblack.........................................3
Aluminum..........................................3
Antimony sulfide..................................3
Sodium oxalate....................................4