Evaluating Various Pyrotechnic Compositions as a Substitute for Black Powder in an Ignition Transfer Role

摘要

While black powder has been used for hundreds of years in perhaps hundreds of different applications, the use of black powder as the method of igniting a stab detonator has always been a topic of concern. The ECBC Pyrotechnics Team was asked to evaluate several candidate pyrotechnic compositions as a replacement (i.e. upgrade) for black powder in a time delay device. The output of the time delay is designed to function a stab detonator which in turn makes the transition to a detonation wave which subsequently detonates a main burster charge. In an effort to upgrade this tiny output pellet both for long term storage concerns as well as reliability concerns, several pyrotechnic compositions were used in the identical setup to determine their individual suitability in functioning the stab detonator. This paper will highlight the ignition train, its current configuration and functioning, and the results of the experimentation to utilize other pyrotechnic compositions. High speed video will highlight the collected data as well as an energetic discussion on the benefits of replacing black powder in any system.