GB2227815A - Sparkler - Google Patents

Abstract

A sparkler is provided with a self-ignitable striking portion which may be ignited either by friction or by contact with phosphorus or a phosphorus containing composition. The striking portion comprises an oxidant, e.g. potassium chlorate, an organic fuel, e.g. charcoal, and a metallic fuel, e.g. silicon, manganese dioxide or zinc.

Description

SPARKLER The present invention relates to sparklers.

Sparklers are well known pyrotechnics which generally comprise a metal wire or rod surrounded over a major proportion of its length by a composition including a large proportion of metal particles. Typically, a sparkler composition may comprise angular steel grit and barium nitrate (or some other nitrate if coloured sparklers are required) in approximately equal proportions, and a binder mixture. Once alight, a sparkler will burn from one end towards the other giving off showers of bright sparks.

One problem encountered with sparklers has been that they are extremely difficult to ignite. The ignition temperature of the pyrotechnic composition is determined by its metal content, which in sparklers is high. Accordingly, the ignition temperature is high. Furthermore, the amount of metal in the composition gives it a high conductivity for heat and therefore heat is rapidly lost from the attempted ignition point. These factors in combination have caused many frustrations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sparkler which overcomes the above disadvantage by being provided with a self-ignitable striking portion.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sparkler comprising a selfignitable striking portion adapted to be ignited either by friction or by contact with phosphorus or the like, and then to cause ignition of the sparkler pyrotechnic composition.

The striking portion preferably comprises a composition including an oxidant, advantageously a chlorate such as potassium chlorate; an organic fuel, advantageously charcoal or woodmeal; and a metallic fuel, advantageously silicon, manganese dioxide or zinc.

In the case of a friction ignitable striking portion, the composition may also comprise a grit like material, advantageously glass flour; and a phosphorus compound such as phosphorus sesquisulphide.

Accordingly to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a sparkler comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous slurry of an ignitable composition, dipping an end portion of the sparkler into said slurry, and drying said sparkler.

The ignitable composition preferably comprises an oxidant, an organic fuel and a metallic fuel.

The present invention will be described in more detail by reference to the following Example, which is given by way of explanation only.

A sparkler comprising a steel rod coated with a sparkler composition including approximately 38% barium nitrate and 32% angular steel grit (remainder binder and water) was dipped at one end to a depth of several millimeters in a slurry of a composition as set out below.

Potassium Chlorate 40 wt % Flour Glass 15 wt % Silicon 8 wt % Phosphorus Sesquisulphide 7 wt % Zinc Oxide 6 wt % Animal Glue 18 wt % Plaster 5.5 wt % Dye 0.5 wt % The above mixture was made into a slurry with approximately three parts of solid to one part of water and the sparklers dipped into it.

The sparklers were then dried in air. It was found that the sparkler tip could be struck against a frictional surface, in the manner of a match, and ignited and caused ignition of the sparkler itself.

Other compositions have been made with the silicon replaced by manganese dioxide ord powdered zinc.

The sparklers again were ignitable on friction.

In another example, the sparklers were dipped in a composition similar to that shown above but omitting the phosphorus sesquisulphide and the flour glass. The sparklers were ignitable upon friction with a phosphorus impregnated board.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS:

1. A sparkler comprising a self-ignitable striking portion adapted to be ignited either by friction or by contact with phosphorus or the like, and then to cause ignition of the sparkler pyrotechnic composition.

2. A sparkler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the striking portion comprises a composition including an oxidant, an organic fuel, and a metallic fuel.

3. A sparkler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the oxidant comprises a chlorate.

4. A sparkler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the chlorate is potassium chlorate.

5. A sparkler as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the organic fuel comprises charcoal.

6. A sparkler as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the organic fuel comprises woodmeal.

7. A sparkler as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the metallic fuel is silicon.

8. A sparkler as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the metallic fuel is manganese dioxide.

9. A sparkler as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the metallic fuel is zinc.

10. A sparkler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition also comprises a grit like material and a phosphorus compound, whereby the sparkler may be ignited by friction.

11. A sparkler as claimed in claim 10, wherein the grit like material is glass flour.

12. A sparkler as claimed in either claim 10 and claim 11, wherein the phosphorus compound is phosphorus sesquisulphide.

13. A sparkler substantially as described herein with reference to the Example.

14. A method of making a sparkler comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous slurry of an ignitable composition, dipping an end portion of the sparkler into said slurry, and drying said sparkler.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ignitable composition comprises an oxidant, an organic fuel and a metallic fuel.

16. A method of making a sparkler substantially as described herein with reference to the Example.