Engineering Design Handbook - Military Pyrotechnics Series, Part One - Theory and Application

265 Pages·21.118 MB·English

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AMC PAMPHLET AMCP 706-184
N ~JUN 16 1967
' ENGINEERING DESIGN
HANDBOOK
ITARY PYROTECHNICS SERIES.
PART ONE.
h c rm(cid:127)r r h- bt:n approved
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/THEORYAND APPLICATION;,
HEADQUARTERS, U.S. ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND 'I/ APRI 167
Reprodocod by-
"I/ , NATIONAL TECHNICAL
INFORMATION SERVICE .
US Deparlment of Cobom~fce
Springfield, VA. 22151 r
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. .HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND
(cid:127).:TR'IUTI/i iC" OniOs WASHINGTON, D. C. 20315
Di(cid:127)e. A M HLET 28 April 1967
70 185
ENGINEERING DESIGN HANDBOOK
MILITARY PYROTECHNICS SERIES
PART ONE--THEORY AND APPLICATION
This pamphlet is published for the information and guidance
of all concerned.
(AMCRD-R)
FOR THE COMMANDER:
K. hi. BAYER
Major General, USA
Acting Chief of Staff
OFFICIAL:
(cid:127) / Colonel, G(cid:127)
Chief, Ad istrative Offi,:e
DISTRIBUTION:
Special
A*1
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AMCP 706-185
PREFACE
The Engineering Design Handbook Series of the Army Materiel Command
is a coordinated series of handbooks containing basic information and funda-
mental data useful in the design and development of Army materiel and systems.
The handbooks are authoritative reference books of practical information and
quantitative facts helpful in the design and development of Army materiel so
that it will meet the tactical and the technical needs of the Armed Forces. The
present handbook is one of a series intended to fill a longfelt need for an au-
thoritative and comprehensive source of information on military pyrotechnics.
It is a common misconception to regard military pyrotechnics as being
synonymous with fireworks. Military pyrotechnics is rapidly developing into a
science which exploits all applicable scientific and engineering principles and
lpractices.
This handbook, Military Pyrotechnics, Part One, Theory and Applica.tion,
includes a chapter on the history of the pyrote2hnic art, a chapter giving a
general introduction to the application of pyrotechnic devic,'s to military prob-
lems, and chapters on Physical-Chemical Relationships, Visibility, Production
of Heat, Production of Light, and Production of Smoke.
~ ,.. Material for this handbook, except for Chapter 1, was prepared by the
Denver Research Institute of the University of Denver, under the direction of
Dr. Robert W. Evans. Material for Chapter 1, History of Military Pyrotechnics,
was prepared by the McGraw-Hill Book Company Technical Writing Service.
All material was prepared for the Engineering Handbook Office of Duke Uni-
versity, prime contractor to the Army Research Office-Durham. The prepara-
tion of this handbook was under the technical guidance of an interservice com-
mittee with represente.tion from the Army Chemical Center, Ballistic Research
Laboratories, Frankford Arsenal, Harry Diamond Laboratories and Picatinny
Arsenal of the Army Materiel Command; the Naval Ammunition Depot (Crane),
Naval Ordnance Laboratory and the Naval Ordnance T(st Station. The chair-
man of this committce was Garry Weingarten of Picatinny Arsenal.
Elements of the UI. . Army Materiel Command ha ;,g need for handbooks
may submit requisitions or official requests directly to ,blications and Repro-
duction Agency, Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201.
Contractors should submit such requisitions or requests to their contracting
officers.
Comments and suggestions on this handbook are welcome and should be ad..
dressed to Army Research Office-Durham, Box CM, Duke Station, Durham,
-* North Carolina 27706.
.V- o
AMCP 706-185
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraph Page
P R E F A CE ........................................... i
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .......................... 3ii
LIST OF TABLES ..................................
CHAPTER I
HISTORY OF MILITARY PYROTECHNICS
_'-1 Introduction .......................................... 1-1
1-2 Early H istory ....... ................................ 1-1
1-2.1. G reek F ire ....................................... 1-1
1-2.2 Chinese Pyrotechnics ............................. 1-2
1-2.3 Gunpowder ....................................... 1-2
'e ' 1-2.4 Miscellaneous Uses ............................... 1-2
1-3 18th and 19th Centuries .............................. 1-2
1-4 Early 20th Century ................................... 1-3
1-4.1 W orld W ar I .................................... 1-3
"1-4.2 Between the W ars ................................ 1-4
1-4.3 W orld W ar I1 ................................... 1-4
1-5 Post Wo rld W ar II Period ... ......................... 1-5
REFERENCES ...................................... 1-6
CHAPTER 2
INTRODUCTION TO MILITARY PYROTECHNICS
2-1 Introduction ........................................... 2-1
2-1.1 Pyrotechnic Devices and Uses ...................... 2-1
2-1.2 Characteristics of Pyrotechnic Compositions ........ 2-3
2-1.2.1 Performance Characteristics ................... 2-3
4 2-1.2.2 Pzocessing and Sensitivity Characteristics ....... 2-3
2-1.2.3 General Functioning Characteristics ............ 2-3
"2-1.3 Constituents in Pyrotechnic Compositions ........... 24
2-1.4 Comparison of Pyrotechnic Mixtures and Explosives 2-5
REFERENCES ..................................... 2-6
Preceding page blank
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AMCP 706-185
--- e--
"TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
"CHAPTER 3
PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL RELATIONSHIPS
Paragraph Page
3-1 State of a System ..................................... 3-1
3-1.1 The Gaseous State ................................ 3-1
"3-1.1.1 Ideal Gases ................................. 3-1
3-1.1.2 The Universal Gas Constant and Standard Con-
ditions ................................... 3-2
3-1.1.3 Real Gases .................................. 3-2
3-1.1.4 Gas M ixtures ....... ......................... 3-3
3-1.1.5 Sample Calculations ........................... 3-4
3-1.2 The Liquid State ................................. 3-5
3-1.2.1 Vapor Pressure ............................... 3-5
""3-1.2.2 Boiling Point ................................. 3-5
3-1.3 The Solid State ................................... 3-5
3-2 Thermodynamics .................................... 3-7
3-2.1 Thermodynamic Relationships ...................... 3-7
3-2.1.1 First Law of Thermodynamics .................. 3-7
3-23.1.1 Heat Effects at Constant Volume and Constant
P ressure ............................. 3-7
"3-2.1.1.2 Heat Capacity ........................... 3-8
Heat Capacity of Gases ................ 3-9
"3-2.1.1.2.1
"3-2.1.1.2.2 Heat Capacity of Liquids and Solids .... 3-9 .- :
3-2.1.2 Second 1aw of Thermodynamics ............... 3-9
3-2.1.3 Third Law of Thermodynamics ................. 3-10
3-2.2 Thermochemistry ................................. 3-11
3-2.2.1 H eats of Reaction ............................. 3-11
:3-2,2.2 Effect of Temperature on the Heat of Reaction 3-12
3-2.2.3 Enthalpy Tables .............................. 3-13
:3-2.2.4 Bond Energies ............................... 3-13
3-2.3 Free Energy and Equilibrium ...................... 3-13
-3-2.3.1 Chemical Equilibrium ......................... 3-14
3-2.3.2 The LeChatelier Principle ..................... 3-16
3-2.3.3 Free Energy and the Equilibrium Constant ...... 3-16
3-2.3.4 Free Energy Calculations ...................... 3-17
_ 3-2.3.5 Tabulated Free Energy Values ................ 3-19
3-2.4 Adiabatic Flame Temperature ..................... 3-19
:3-2,5 Sample Thermodynamic (Calculations ............... 3-20
3-2.6 Summary of Thermochemical Calculations ........... 3-23
3-3 Chem ical K inetics ..................................... 3-23
:3-3.1 Molecularity of Reactions .......................... 3-24
3-3.2 Order of Reaction ................................. 3-25
13 1-3.3 Influence of Temperature on Reacti(,n Rates .......... 3-26
"3-3.4 Chain Reactions ................................. 3-27
3.-3.5 Heterogeneous Reactions .......................... 3-27
3-3.6 Ignition and Propagative Burning ................. 3-27
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SAMCP 706-185 ,
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Paragraph Page
3-3.6.1 Ignition .................................... 3-28
3-3.6.2 Burning of Metal Particles ..................... 3-29 .
3-3.6.3 Burning of Solid Propellants .................. 3-29
3-3.6.4 Rate of Propagative Burning ................... 3-30
3-4 Thermoanalytieal Techniques ........................... 3-32
REFERENCES ...................................... 3-36 0
'Iý
CHAPTER 4
VISIBILITY
4-1 Introduction....................................... 4-1
4-2 V ision ............................................... 4-1
4-2.1 Brightness Contrast ............................... 4-1
4-4.2 Overall Contrast .................................. 4-2
4-3 Attenuation of Contrast ..................... ......... 4-2 0
4-3.1 Attenuation of Contrast by the Atmosphere .......... 4-3
4-3.2 Obscuration of Vision by Artificial Smoke Clouds ..... 4-4
4-4 Visibility of Targets and Signals ....................... 4-6
4-4.1 Visibility of Targets Under Artificial Illumination ... 4-6
4-4.2 Visibility of Signals ............................ 4-8
4-4.2.1 Visibility of Smoke Clouds ................... 4-9
4-4.2.2 Visibility of Light Sources ..................... 4-9
"4-4.3 Estimation of Visibility ........................... 4-10
4-4.4 Illustrative Examples ............................. 4-15 '.1 .
"REFERENCES .................... ................. 4-18
"CHAPTER 5
PRODUCTION OF HEAT
S5-1 H istorical Summary ................................... 5-1
5-2 Introduction .......................................... 5-5
5-3 Theory............................................5-5
5-3.1 Amount of Energy Released ........................ 5-6
5-3.2 H eat Transfer .................................... 5-7
5-3.2.1 Conduction .................................. 5-9
5-3.2.2 Convection and Radiation ...................... 5-10
5-3.3 H eat Effects ..................................... 5-10 -
5-4 Incendiaries ........................................ 5-11 ' ".
-
5-4.1 Small Arms Incendiary Ammunition ................ 5-11 .
5-4.1.1 Ignition and Combustion of Aircraft Fuels ...... 5-1.3
0 ..
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd) -'
Paragraph Page
54.1.2 Nature of a Small Arms Incendiary Burst ....... 5-14
5-4.1t3 Small Arms Incendiary Fillers ................. 5-16
5-4.1.3.1 Fuels .................................... 5-17
5-4.1.3.2 Oxidizers ................................. 5-17
5-4.1.3.3 Binders, Lubricants, and Other Incendiury
Mixture .dditives ..................... 5-19
5-4.1.3.4 Typical Compositions .................. i... 5-20
5-4.1.4 Typical Small Arms Incendiary Bullets ......... 5-20
5-4.2 Incendiaries for Ground Application ............... 5-21
5-4.2.1 Ignition and Combustion of Ground Targets ..... 5-21
5-4.2.2 Incendiary Compositions ...................... 5-22
5-4.2.2.1 Metal-Based Ground Incendiaries ........... 3-22
5-4.2.2.2 Liquid Fuel-Based Incendiaries ............ 5-24
5-4.2.2.2.1 Liquid Incendiaries ................... 5-25
5-4.2.2.2.2 Solidified Liquid Incendiaries .......... 5-25
5-4.2.2.2.2.1 Rubber Thickeners ................ 5-26
5-4.2.2.2.2.2 Napalm Thickeners ............... 5-26
5-4.2.2.2.2.3 Methacrylate Thickeners ........... 5-27
5-4.2.2.3 Other Incendiaries ........................ 5-28
5-4.2.3 Typical Incendiary Devices .................... 5-28
5-5 Delay Compositions and Heat Powders .................. 5-29
5-5.1 Pyrotechnic Delays .............................. 5-29
5-5.1.1 Delay Elements .............................. 5-29
5-5.1.1.' Obturated Delay Elements ................. 5-30
5-5.1.1.2 Vented Delay Elements .................... 5-30
5-5.1.2 Delay Compositions ........................... 5-R0
5-5.1.2.1 Black Powder Delays ..................... 5-31
5-5.1.2.2 Typical Gasless Compositions ............... 5-32
5-5.1.3 Factors Affecting Performance ................. 5-32
5-5.1.3.1 Composition ............................. 5-33
5-5.1.3.2 External Pressure ............ ........... 5-34
5-5.1.3.3 External Temperature ..................... 5-35
5-5.1.3.4 Terminal Charge, Anticipatory Effect ....... 5.36
5-5.1.3.5 Particle Size .............................. 5-36
5-5.1.3.6 Ignition Compositions ..................... 5-37
S5-5.1.3.7 Column Diameter ......................... 5-37
5-5.1.3.8 Loading Pressure ......................... 5-38
5-5.1.3.9 Housing Material ......................... 5-39
5-5.1.319 Acceleration .... .... ....... ............. 5-43
.5-5.1.3.11 Storage ........... ...................... 5-43
5-5.2 Heat Powders .................................... 5-45
S5-6 Initiators, First Fires, and Starters ..................... 5-45
5-6.1 Prime Ignition ................................... 5-45
"5-6.2 Characteristics of Ideal Igniter, First Fire, and
Starter Compositions ........................... 5-46
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Paragraph Page
fA 5-6.3 Typical Compositions ............................. 5-48
REFERENCES ...................................... 5-48
CHAPTER 6
PRODUCTION OF LIGHT
6-1 Historical Summary ................................. 61
6-1.1 Consolidated Illuminants .......................... 6.1
"6-1.1.1 Flares and Signals ............................ 6-1
6-1.1.2 Tracers ...................................... 6-2
6-1.2 Nonconsolidated Illuminarits ....................... 6.5
6-1.2.1 Photoflash Devices ............................ 6-5
6-1.2.1.1 Photoflash Bombs .......................... 6-5
6-1.2.1.1.1 Composition Type .... ................ 6-5
6-1.2.1.1.2 Dust Type ........................... 6-6
6-1.2.1.1.3 Segregated Oxidant Type .............. 6-7
6-1.2.1.2 Photoflash Cartridges ...................... 6-7
6-1.2.2 Spotting Charges ............................ 6.8
6-2 Theory of Light and Color ............................. 6-8
"". 6-2.1 Behavior of Light ......... ....................... 6-8
"6-2.2 Spectral Distribution ............................. 6-9
6-2.2.1 Discrete Spectra .............................. 6-9
6-2.2.1.1 Line Spectra ............................. 6-9
6-2.2.1.2 Band Spectra ............................ 6-10
6-2.2.2 Continuous Spectra ........................... 6-11
6-2.3 Radiation Sources ............ .................... 6-11
6-2.3.1 Thermal Radiation Sources ..................... 6-11
6.2.3.1.1 Blackbody ................... ............. 6-11
6..2.3.1.2 Graybody ................................ 6-12
6-2.3.1.3 Incandescent Sources ...................... 6-12
6-2.3.2 Luminescence ............................... 6-13
6-2.3.2.1 Chemiluminescence ........................ 6-14
- 6-2.3.2.2 Phosphorescence and Fluorescence .......... 6-14
6-2.3.3 Flame Sources ............................... 6-14
6-2.4 Photometry. ..................................... 6-14
6-2.4.1 Instruments for Measuring Light Inteisity ....... 6-15
6-2.1.2 Measurement of the Light Output of Flares ...... 6-15
6-2.4.3 Intensity ................................... 6-16
6-2.4.4 B rightness ................................... 6-16
6-2.4.5 Ilhnaniiiiation.................................. 6-16
6-2.4.6 Photometric Units ............................. 6-16
6-2.5 Color ........................................... 6-17
6.2.5.1 Additive Color...............................6-17
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Paragraph Page
6-2.5.2 Subtraetive Color ............................ 6-18
6-2.5.3 Chromaticity Caordinates ...................... 6-18
6-2.5.4 Munsell Color System ......................... 6-20
6-2.5.5 Color Value ................................... 6-20
6-2.6 Atmospheric Effects ............................... 6-20
6-3 Consolidated Illuminating Devices ..................... 6-21
5-3.1 )lluminating Flares ............................... 6-21
6-3.1.1 A ircraft Flares ............................... 6-21
,. 6-3.1.2 Surface Flares ................................ 6-23
6-3.2 Illumination Signals ................ .............. 6-23
6-3.2.1 Aircraft Illumination Signals .................. 6-23
-:
6-3.2.2 Ground Illumination Signals ................... 6-24
6-3.3 Tracers ........................................ 6-24
-,
6-344 Typical Compositions ................. ............ 6-27
6-3.5 Factors Affecting Performance ...................... 6-27
6-3.5.1 Heat of Reaction ............................. 6-30
(i-3.5.2 Composition ................................. 6-33
-
"6-3.5.3 Fmitters ................................... 6-33
6-3.5.4 Color Intensifiers ............................. 6-37
6-3.5.5 B inders ...................................... 6-38
G6-' 3.5.6 Particle Size ................................ 6-39
,-3.5.71 6 Consolidation ................................ 6-41 %
6\:-.5.8 Flare Diameter .............................. 643
6-3.5.9 Case Materials and Coating .................... 6-43
,( ;-.5.10 Temperature and Pressure ..................... 6-45
"6-3.5.11 Rotational Spin .............................. 6-47
6-3.5.12 Moisture and Stability ........................ 6-49
-, 6-4 Nonconsolidated ilinminant Charges .................... 6-52
6-4.1 Aerial Photographic Illuminants .................... 6-53
64.1.1 Photoflash Cartridges .......................... 6-54
6-4.1.2 Photoflash Bombs ............................. 6-54
6-4.1.S3.- 5 Other Photographic Illuminant Systems .......... 6-54
6-4.2 Spotting Charges .................................. 6-55
6-4.2.1 Small Arm Spotting Rounds ................... 6-55
+-4...'T. racking ................................... 6-55
e
6-4.2.3 Indication of Functioning ...................... 6-56
- 4-.ý6ý Typical (Compositions .................... ......... 6-56
6-4.4 Light Production ................................. 6-56
6-- 4.,1 Light Output C'haracteristics ......... ......... 6-57
'-4. I._'.1 T im e Intensity . ........................... 6-57
i6 ; 1.4.1.2 Spectral 1)istribution ............... ...... 6-58
6.4.4.2 Nature of the Photoflash Burst ................. 6-58
6.4.5 Factors Affecting Performance ..................... 6-61
1 -4.5.1 Charge W eight ........................ 6-61
% 6-4.5.,2 Com position .................................. 6-62
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