Aluminum Flares

Substitution of aluminum for Magnesium as a Fuel in Flares
Bossie Jackson and Frnak Taylor et al.

4th International Pyrotechnics Seminar 1974
ABSTRACT
A formulation has been developed for use in the U.S. Army Trip Flare which
utilizes aluminum as a substitute for magnesium fuel. Previously aluminum was
not considered to be a good fuel for flare applications since mixtures of atomized
aluminum (diameter [greater than or equal to] 15 micron and sodium nitrate are
not readily ignitable, propagate poorly, and burn very erratically and
inefficiently.
one of the reasons for the inefficiency of this system is the considerable loss of
fuel as incandescent particles. This Roman Candle effect makes the flare an
incendiary device as well as an illumination source. This incendiary aspect is
very undesirable causing possible harm to users and danger of starting ground
fires. The present study shows how the ignition properties of aluminum sodium
nitrate can be significantly improved and how the production of incandescent
particles can be minimized by using small percentages of various additives, such
as tungsten metal.
By using these new additive systems, the two basic advantages of

aluminum can be used. The first is cost, 38 cents per pound for aluminum as
compared to 85 cents for 20/50 mesh atomized magnesium, and the second is
its ready availability.
The disadvantages associated with the present aluminum formulation, as

well as with other aluminum formulations, when exposed to excess moisture are
gassing and self-heating leading to spontaneous ignition in storage.
Experimental data is presented showing these interesting phenomena. By
careful exclusion of moisture during processing, these effects can be eliminated,
as was demonstrated by long term storage stability testing.
INTRODUCTION
The present study was conducted to determine if a composition could be

developed for the Army M49A1 Trip Flare containing aluminum as a substitute
for magnesium. The primary justification for this program was based on cost and
availability of aluminum as opposed to magnesium. Atomized magnesium
powder is primarily produced for pyrotechnic applications, while powdered
aluminum is mass produced for a host of applications ranging from pigments in
paints to energy constituents in propellants and explosives.
Although the present study is directed primarily towards the Trip Flare, it
delves into all aspects of flare technology. For example, investigations were
made of the effects of particle size, fuel-oxidant ratio, binder concentration,
additives, fuel coating, flare case materials, flare case coatings, moisture, and
short and long-term stability.
Previously aluminum was not considered to be a good fuel for flare

applications since mixtures of atomized aluminum (diameter greater than or
equal to 15 micron) and sodium nitrate ignite poorly, propagate poorly, and bum
very erratically and inefficiently. One of the reasons for the inefficiency of the
Al-NaN03 system is that it produces a profusion of incandescent particles. This
Roman Candle effect makes the flare an incendiary device as well as an
illumination source. This incendiary aspect is very undesirable -- causing
possible harm to users and danger of starting ground fires.
A few years ago, however, it was demonstrated that powdered aluminum in

combination with sodium nitrate (Ref 1, 2) will burn propagatively when small
quantities of various transition metals or metal compounds are incorporated into
the mixture. These studies showed that the transition metal compounds affecting
the Al-NaN03 reaction fell into five classes. Class 1 are those which increase the
efficiency of the system by decreasing the thermal conductivity of the basic
binary. Class 2 compounds, consisting of manganese oxides, catalyze the
normal decomposition of sodium nitrate to evolve oxygen at low temperatures.
Compounds as which cause ignition of aluminum at about 700oC (a value well
below its normal ignition temperature of 1000oC) are in Class 3. Class 4
embraces transition metals which all ignite with sodium nitrate at lower
temperatures than does aluminum. Finally Class 5 compounds are those which
alter the normal decomposition pattern of sodium nitrate, causing the evolution of
the oxides of nitrogen at the melting point of the nitrate.
-------- 30 pages of details not scanned ------
CONCLUSIONS:
A formulation has been developed for use in the U.S. Army Trip Flare which
utilizes aluminum instead of magnesium for a fuel. This composition contains
35% six micron atomized aluminum, 53% sodium nitrate, 7% seven micron
tungsten powder and 5% Laminac 4116 polyester resin.
The two basic advantages of the new aluminum system are cost, 38 cents
per pound for aluminum as compared to 85 cents a pound for 20/50 mesh
atomized magnesium, and ready commercial availability.
The disadvantages of the aluminum system are gassing and self-heating

which occurs when it is exposed to excess moisture. By careful exclusion of
moisture during processing, however, these effects can be eliminated as was
demonstrated by long term storage stability testing.

Aluminum Flares

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aluminum Flares

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aluminum Flares

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Substitution of aluminum for Magnesium as a Fuel in Flares

Bossie Jackson and Frnak Taylor et al.

By using these new additive systems, the two basic advantages of

The disadvantages associated with the present aluminum formulation, as

The present study was conducted to determine if a composition could be

Previously aluminum was not considered to be a good fuel for flare

A few years ago, however, it was demonstrated that powdered aluminum in

-------- 30 pages of details not scanned ------

The disadvantages of the aluminum system are gassing and self-heating

You might also like