Pyrotechnics are used in a variety of applications, including fireworks and colored signal flares. The fireworks and signal flares currently available use perchlorate oxidizers to produce their desired colors, but residual perchlorates from pyrotechnic devices may leach into groundwater and cause widespread contamination, requiring remediation. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division has reformulated pyrotechnic compositions to remove perchlorate ingredients while maintaining good performance.
Groundwater contamination by perchlorates has been found to be a serious problem in many areas throughout the world. When perchlorates are present in drinking water, they can inhibit the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland, leading to potentially serious health problems. In particular, for fetuses and newborns, the health problems can result in permanent neurological damage. Department of Defense perchlorate policy mandates site cleanup if perchlorate concentration levels reach 24.5 parts per billion (ppb) and the most stringent state action levels are as low as 2 ppb. Annually, the U.S. fireworks industry uses 221 million pounds of perchlorates containing pyrotechnics, and 20 to 40 million slower burning roadside distress flares are sold annually.
The perchlorate-free pyrotechnic composition developed by NSWC, Crane Division eliminates objectionable perchlorate ingredients, avoiding costly cleanup, provides equal or superior luminous intensity and excellent color characteristics, has consistent batch-to-batch reproducibility, has a wide burn rate flexibility, and is available in red, green and yellow.
For more information on this technology, contact Kurt Rued of TechLink, 406-994-7776, krued@montana.edu.
