Burning sparkler
Sparklers- an indispensable attribute of the New Year. But why are sparklers called that? What are sparklers made of, what is their composition and how to make them at home? You will find answers to these and other questions in this article.
All sparklers contain fuel, an oxidizer, metal powder (for sparks), flammable glue and a rod for the entire mass. Most often, the composition of sparklers is as follows:
- aluminum or magnesium powder is used as fuel,
- barium nitrate (barium nitrate) is used as an oxidizing agent,
- Dextrin or starch is used as a binding agent,
- oxidized iron and steel filings are used to generate sparks,
- Metal wire is used as the basis for the combustible mixture.
Why are sparklers called that?
I'm sure many of you have wondered why sparklers are called that. Why Bengal? The name comes from the province of Bengal, which is located in India.
In this province, a similar composition was used for the first time as an alarm. After this, the name sparkler came about, i.e. fire from Bengal.
How to make sparklers at home
In the book by G.A. Platov “Pyrotechnician. The Art of Making Fireworks" describes several compositions for self-made sparklers. As you can see below, the main components do not change, only the fuel changes:
- 50% - barium nitrate
- 30% - steel or cast iron burnished sawdust
- 13% - dextrin
- 7% - aluminum powder or magnesium powder or aluminum-magnesium powder (PAM) No. 4.
Barium nitrate can most often be purchased only in specialized chemical stores, so below is an option for making sparklers yourself without using barium nitrate.
Attention! The composition for making sparklers yourself, which is suggested below, contains sulfur, so their use indoors is prohibited!
To make 15 sparklers you will need:
- 10 grams of cast iron or steel filings (the color of the sparks depends on the metal)
- 10 grams of aluminum gunpowder (50% potassium nitrate, 35% aluminum powder and 15% sulfur must be mixed together and thoroughly ground)
- 4 grams of dextrin (dextrin is obtained from starch by baking it at 200 degrees for 90 minutes, for example in the oven)
- Steel wire with a diameter of 1 mm.
Home production steps:
- To begin making home sparklers, you need to cut the steel wire into pieces of the required length. On one side of the wire you need to make a hook (it is needed to hang sparklers for drying).
The use of copper and aluminum wire is prohibited, because the combustion temperature exceeds 1000 degrees and the wire will melt.
- Mix all the ingredients by adding a little water or alcohol to bring the consistency of the mixture to a more or less thick state (like condensed milk).
- Dip pieces of steel wire into the resulting mixture and dry for about 15-20 minutes, repeat the procedure 5-6 times.
A test tube is well suited for these purposes, but if you don’t have one, you can apply the composition to the wire with a brush.
As you can see, making sparklers at home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, but it is important to remember the safety rules when using fire indoors and outdoors.
How to light sparklers
Some manufacturers put a special flammable head (almost like the head of a match) on the end of a sparkler to make it easier to light.
To quickly light a sparkler, it is better to use another one that has already been lit, because... combustion temperature exceeds 1000 degrees.
You should not try to light sparklers from a cigarette in your mouth - this can lead to bad consequences.
The roots of the history of the creation of sparklers should be sought in ancient India in the V-VI centuries. Historians testify that on the altars, when religious ceremonies took place in the temples, a fire of extraordinary brightness flared up and quickly burned out.
The composition of colored fire (green, blue, yellow) became known only at the beginning of the 8th century. We also learned about methods that made it possible to lengthen the burning time of a fire: dry hollow plant stems were filled with sparkler composition. The flame of these first sparklers was not only bright, but also a characteristic crackling sound was heard when burning.
The Eastern Slavs, around the same years, loved to hold “fire fun”; they organized them using a club moss. This plant also has a second name - lycopodium. Lycopodium is a herbaceous evergreen plant that spreads along the ground and can even be mistaken for moss. You can get an instant lightning-like flash that does not have smoke if you ignite the dry mature spores of this plant. The flame when a moss burns is simply amazing, it is especially beautiful if you look at it at night. To obtain a strong noise, dried birch leaves were added to the composition, turned into a powder mixture. Moss moss powder has the property of igniting only when it is dispersed over a flame in the air. And here fresh composition A sparkler can burst into flames instantly if any source of flame is brought close to it. That's why it's much easier to use.
Bengal lights came to Europe as soon as a trade route opened between India and Europe. The first appearance of sparklers was noted in Europe, where premises for storing their compositions were allocated there (in Valencia). The next stage, bringing us closer to the Bengal candles that are familiar to us, is an invention in the 6th-7th centuries. sparkling fire recipes. The effect could be achieved by adding iron scale or crushed cast iron to the flaming composition of a sparkler. Later they began to use magnesium powder.
The development of sparklers, thus, went in two directions - fiery and sparkling fire. Flame compositions are most often loaded into paper cartridges. Sparkling compositions are applied in several layers to wooden sticks or metal wire.
Professor Petrov, a Russian pyrotechnician, recommended using writing paper when making sleeves for flaming sparklers, folding it in three turns (cross-section - 20 mm, length - 35 cm). It is impossible to hold such candles in your hands, as they burn out along with the sleeve. However, when they burn, a wonderful “fire picture” is observed, which gives an even, bright flame. If you attach the finished sleeve to a wooden stick 5-7 cm long, you will get a flaming Bengal candle that will be comfortable to hold in your hand.
It is these products that have survived to this day practically unchanged. Such candles are mainly produced in China, Japan, and India. Their modern name is triumphal candles. The products can be successfully used even indoors, as they are practically smokeless.
Sparkler
Sparkler
Burning a sparkler at a temperature of 1100° C
Sparklers- a mixture of substances that, when burned, gives a bright and sparkling white or colored fire, was invented by the ancient pyrotechnics of Bengal - a part of India located along the Bay of Bengal. This is where the name “Bengal fire” comes from. Bengal lights, or sparklers, from India spread throughout the world.
Making sparklers
Store-bought sparklers consist of twisted wire coated with a flammable mixture and typically produce a white flame. To prepare colored homemade sparklers, first mix starch with water and brew a thick paste.
Then grind in a mortar a mixture of iron filings, aluminum or magnesium powder, flame-coloring salt and wet “Berthollet salt” - potassium chlorate KClO3 (Caution! Dry potassium chlorate, when ground, can ignite metal powders!)
The mixture obtained by grinding is added to the starch paste and mixed thoroughly. The thick mass is transferred into a test tube or tumbler, alternately dip pre-prepared iron wires about 1 mm thick into it to a depth of 8-10 cm, take them out and allow the excess mass to drain, and then hang them on a rope by a hook bent at the other end of the wire.
After drying, the wires are again dipped into the liquid mass and dried again. These operations are repeated 3-5 times until the layer of mass on the wire reaches 5-6 mm in diameter, after which the sparklers are dried completely.
Green sparkler is prepared by mixing without grinding 5 g of wet barium nitrate Ba(NO3)2 with 1 g of aluminum or magnesium powder, then adding 3 g of iron filings. Another recipe for a green sparkler includes 3.5g boric acid B(OH)3, 6.5g wet potassium chlorate, 2g iron filings and 1g aluminum powder.
A red sparkler produces a mixture of 4.5 g wet strontium nitrate Sr(NO3)2, 5.5 g potassium chlorate, 3 g iron filings and 1 g aluminum or magnesium powder.
A yellow sparkler will delight your eyes if it is prepared from 3 g sodium oxalate Na2C2O4, 5 g wet potassium chlorate, 3 g iron filings and 1 g aluminum or magnesium powder.
Reactions
Colored fire when burning sparkler mixtures is obtained due to the presence of substances containing cations of barium, strontium, sodium or boron atoms, capable of emitting light of a certain wavelength in the visible region of the spectrum when entering the flame. Iron Fe, aluminum Al and magnesium Mg in the form of powders or fine sawdust, when burned, produce spectacular sparks. In this case, iron(III) oxide Fe 2 O 3 and partly Fe 3 O4, as well as Al 2 O 3 and MgO are formed.
Na 2 C 2 O 4 = Na 2 CO 3 + CO
and boric acid B(OH) 3, releasing water, turns into boron oxide:
2B(OH) 3 = B 2 O 3 + 3H 2 O By the way: what are “oxalates”?
Oxalates are salts of oxalic acid H 2 C 2 O 4. 2H 2 O, a colorless crystalline substance. Alkali metal and ammonium oxalates are colorless crystalline substances, highly soluble in water; the remaining oxalates are slightly soluble.
Strong acids in their concentrated aqueous solutions oxalates decompose into salts of these acids, releasing carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. For example, sodium oxalate Na2C2O4 under the action of concentrated sulfuric acid is converted into sodium sulfate, releasing CO and CO2:
Na 2 C 2 O 4 + H 2 SO 4 = Na 2 SO 4 + CO + CO 2 + H 2 O
Oxalic acid is dibasic and forms two series of salts: medium ones, for example, potassium oxalate monohydrate K 2 C 2 O 4. H 2 O, and acidic - hydroxalates, for example, potassium hydroxalate monohydrate KHC 2 O 4. H 2 O. When heated, almost all oxalates decompose into metal carbonates and carbon monoxide CO. Thus, calcium oxalate CaC 2 O 4 is converted into calcium carbonate and carbon monoxide:
CaC 2 O 4 = CaCO 3 + CO
With stronger heating, CaCO 3 releases carbon dioxide CO 2, turning into calcium oxide CaO:
CaCO 3 = CaO + CO 2
Oxalates in aqueous solutions exhibit reducing properties. For example, the interaction of sodium oxalate in an acidic environment with potassium permanganate leads to the release of carbon dioxide:
5Na 2 C 2 O 4 + 2KMnO 4 + 8H 2 SO 4 = K 2 SO 4 + 2MnSO 4 + 10CO 2 + 5Na 2 SO 4 + 8H 2 O
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See what "Bengal fire" is in other dictionaries:
A pyrotechnic composition, the combustion of which is accompanied by the scattering of sparkling sparks. Typically, sparkler candles are applied to pieces of metal wire. Named after the signaling method first used in Bengal (India) using... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
A special flammable composition that produces bright white or colored light. A complete dictionary of foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language. Popov M., 1907 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
A pyrotechnic composition, the combustion of which is accompanied by the scattering of sparkling sparks. Typically, sparkler candles are applied to pieces of metal wire. The name comes from the signaling method first used in Bengal (India) using... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
sparkler- bengališkoji ugnis statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Pirotechninis mišinys, susidedantis iš sieros, cukraus, KNO₃ ir Ba ar Sr druskų. atitikmenys: engl. bengal lights; sparklers rus. sparkler... Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas
A pyrotechnic composition containing barium nitrate (oxidizer), powdered aluminum or magnesium (fuel), dextrin or starch (cementant), and oxidized iron or steel filings. The composition is applied to pieces of iron... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
So-called in pyrotechnics, a composition that, when burned, distributes bright white or colored light. It got its name from the method of signaling used for the first time in India using light, obtained by burning a mixture of 16 parts in bamboo tubes... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
- (from the name of the historical region in India, Bengal) pyrotechnic. composition containing barium nitrate (oxidizing agent), powdered aluminum or magnesium, iron. or steel filings (fuel) and dextrin or starch (cementant). When setting fire to B. o. slowly… … Big Encyclopedic Polytechnic Dictionary
sparkler- A pyrotechnic composition that burns with a bright white or colored flame and scatters sparks... Dictionary of many expressions
Fire, m. 1. only units. Hot glowing gases released from burning objects; flame. Strong o. Blow up about. (see bloat). Build a fire (see make a fire). Warm up what n. on fire. || Same as a fire source. Fire insurance. 2. plural… … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
BENGAL, Bengal, Bengal. adj. to Bengal (province of India). Bengal tiger. ❖ Bengal fire is a pyrotechnic composition for illumination, burning with colored fire. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
Bengal lights are an indispensable attribute of any fun holiday - New Year, birthday (and not only children's), wedding. They cost pennies, are sold everywhere, and are absolutely safe for lighting indoors. However, people still continue to be interested; creating colorful joy with their children is both interesting and increases the anticipation of the holiday. Moreover, the process itself is simple, and the necessary substances are quite accessible.
Composition recipes
Craftsmen have come up with several ways to do it yourself. Depending on what is easier for you to get, you can choose any of the recipes. In one group we include compositions that include: mandatory 50% of the total mass of barium nitrate and 12-14 percent dextrin. Additional Ingredients you can choose from the following list:
- From 6 to 8% fine aluminum powder plus 30% sawdust - always steel and burnished.
- The same amount of similar sawdust is added to the base, and the powder is replaced with PAM No. 4 - this is short for aluminum-magnesium powder.
All options are good because they do not contain potassium/sodium salts or sulfur, so the candles will not produce smoke, as well as various kinds of toxins. Result: lights can be used in the home without fear of poisoning.
Another composition has a radically different recipe. For 6-8 lights, take aluminum gunpowder weighing 5 grams, dextrin - 2 grams and sawdust, this time cast iron, which will take from 5 to 6 g. These lights will have to be used only in the fresh air.
Obtaining the necessary ingredients
It is not always possible to buy some of the necessary substances. So before you make a sparkler at home, you may have to start preparing the components. The simplest situation is with dextrin: it is formed when ordinary starch is heated in the oven. The temperature is set to 195 Celsius, processing is carried out until the original substance acquires a brownish tint.
If you decide on a recipe with aluminum gunpowder, you will have to do it outdoors. Aluminum powder and sulfur are ground in a mortar in proportions of 30:45:25.
Important: wire
It is worth paying attention to the base by which you will hold your “fireworks”. There are also several subtleties here. First, the length: cut the wire into pieces of at least 14 cm. This way you will protect your hand from sparks or hot metal. Secondly, thickness. Take wire with a cross-section of 2-3 mm. A thinner one may burn out and break. Thirdly, the material. Neither copper nor aluminum are suitable - the combustion temperature of the mixtures is high, and they will simply melt. Look and don’t forget, before making a sparkler at home, bend one end into a hook so that you can hang it to dry. If the bend bothers you, you can straighten it later or bite it off.
How to make a sparkler with your own hands: instructions
In addition to all the chemicals and rods, you will need a container in which to prepare the composition. First, aluminum gunpowder or barium salt is poured into it, then dextrin, and only after mixing - the remaining components of the selected mixture. When the dry powder is mixed until approximately homogeneous, a little solvent is poured into it (water is possible, but alcohol is better). The consistency should resemble boiled condensed milk. A piece of wire is lowered into the composition, leaving 5-7 cm for the “handle”. The future sparkler is hung to dry for a quarter of an hour, after which the manipulations are repeated twice more. Three layers will dry for half an hour, and then two more are applied in the manner already described. Final drying will take half a day, and you can set it on fire.
Another way
Often people use a slightly different technology on how to make sparklers at home. First, a strong paste of starch is cooked and tap water. Then an incendiary mixture is ground, which includes fine iron filings, magnesium powder (alternatively aluminum), kitchen salt and Bertoletova. The latter must be handled carefully and wetted a little before pouring. The mixture is kneaded in brewed starch until smooth. IN ready themes The rods are dipped in the same way with time intervals between applying layers.
Bengal candles, or sparklers, are a very popular, beloved, and relatively safe type of pyrotechnics. So safe that even children are allowed to set sparklers on fire (of course, under the supervision of their parents). From the point of view of the device, a sparkler candle is a piece of metal wire on which a pyrotechnic composition is applied. The effect of splashing lights is created, on the one hand, by oxidized filings - iron or steel; as well as powdered magnesium or aluminum. Sparklers can come in a variety of colors - with additional chemical ingredients added - such as purple, blue or pink. But classic sparklers are still a golden hissing stick that scatters sparks that look like molten metal (in fact, that’s what it is).
Despite the ease of use, sparklers also have safety precautions. Having taken the begnal out of the packaging, hold it by the metal end (without sprayed pyrochemical composition), under low heat, towards the ground, so that the sparks fall evenly and scatter in different directions. Under no circumstances should you hold a sparkler vertically, because... Flaming particles of metal filings can fall on your hand and cause a burn. Carefully light the far end of the candle.
Sparklers are a flammable product and are recommended to be lit outdoors. This condition becomes mandatory if we are talking about color-flame sparklers, because... they contain aggressive oxidizing agents.
Before lighting, carefully inspect the surface of the candle. It should be fairly smooth, with the composition evenly applied. If there are chips or the composition is falling off in some places, you should refrain from lighting such a candle - most likely, it is expired. You don’t want falling pieces of the composition to fall on your clothes or shoes during a fire?
A high-quality sparkler candle has a silver, gray or black color, depending on the composition used in its manufacture. Some factories apply a special flammable head (almost like the head of a match) to the end of the candle to make it easier to light. Almost all sparklers on sale are made in Russia. There are a lot of factories that produce such pyrotechnics, among them we can highlight NIIPH (Sergiev Posad) and TSZ (Troitsky Equipment Plant), which is part of the Russian Fireworks association. Chinese Bengals are distributed mainly in Siberia and the Far East.
