Georg Steinhauser^a,b, Karina Tarantik^b, and Thomas M. Klapötke^b
((a) Vienna University of Technology, Atominstitut der Österreichischen Universitäten, Stadionallee 2, 1020 Vienna, Austria. Email: georg.steinhauser@ati.ac.at; (b) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13 (D), 81377 Munich, Germany. Email: tmk@cup.uni-muenchen.de)

Abstract: Copper compounds play a key role in the development of “greener” pyrotechnics by substitution of noxious barium compounds from green colored effects. The application of many copper(ii) compounds in pyrotechnics is limited because of their noble and often hygroscopic character. We have investigated nitratocuprates(ii) as well as basic copper(ii) nitrate as potential combined oxidizers and (green) coloring agents. A formulation based on ammonium nitratocuprate(ii) nitrate and boron has promising properties for civilian fireworks. Copper-based high-nitrogen compounds show good flame colors as pure compounds. However, the implementation of ready-for-use pyrotechnics from these substances proved to be much more challenging. A promising candidate for civil pyrotechnic applications would be a mixture based on copper(ii) nitrate pentahemihydrate and 5-aminotetrazole.

Keywords: cuprates, pyrotechnics, fireworks, green color, pollution

Abstract: A number of serious accidents in European Union countries involving explosions of fireworks stored in steel ISO freight containers has shown that the hazards associated with bulk-stored fireworks might be greater than previously thought. To address this problem an EU research programme was initiated, part of which involved field trials with fireworks packed in ISO freight containers. In a few of these trials a mass explosion effect was observed. This prompted a number of questions, including whether the current quantity-distances applying to fireworks storage under such conditions offer adequate protection to the public. We consider this issue in the current paper by looking at the debris hazard from just one of the mass exploding trials, and show that for that particular firework the inhabited building distance specified in MSER is more than adequate to ensure that members of the public are not exposed to unacceptably high risks.

Keywords: Explosives, quantity–safety distances, fireworks, storage, risks