Strobes: Pyrotechnic Compositions That Show a Curious Oscillatory Combustion

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2013-01, Vol.52 (1), p.290-303
• Main Authors: Corbel, Justine M. L., van Lingen, Joost N. J., Zevenbergen, John F., Gijzeman, Onno L. J., Meijerink, Andries
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: autocatalysis; Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction; Burn in; Combustion; Fireworks; Flares; Military; oscillatory combustion; Pyrotechnics; Self-propagating synthesis; solid-phase synthesis; strobes; Trial and error methods
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201207398

Strobes are pyrotechnic compositions which show an oscillatory combustion; a dark phase and a flash phase alternate periodically. The strobe effect has applications in various fields, most notably in the fireworks industry and in the military area. All strobe compositions mentioned in the literature were discovered by trial and error methods and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Many oscillatory systems such as Belousov–Zhabotinsky reactions, cool flames, self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis have been observed and theories developed to elucidate their unstable behavior based on chemical interactions or based on physical processes. These systems are compared to experimental observations made on strobe mixtures. Flash dance: Strobes are pyrotechnic compositions which burn in an oscillatory manner: a dark and a flash phase alternate periodically (see scheme). They have various applications in the fireworks industry and also as flares. However, their mechanism is not well understood. A few better understood oscillatory systems (Belousov–Zhabotinsky reactions, cool flames, self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis) are compared to observations made on strobe mixtures.