Use of BA in a flash formulation generally makes the product (flash composition) less sensitive to friction, static, and thermal ignition making safety a priority. Impact sensitivity is also reduced. BA also produces sound output equivalent in blast duration, decibel level, and pressures equivalent to the industry standard, German Dark Aluminum.
Why BA may revolutionize flash composition manufacture: Blue Aluminum is a material formulated to exhibit properties to reduce handling risks and manufacturing flash compositions. How does BA do this? Use of BA in a flash formulation generally makes the product (flash composition) less sensitive to friction, static, and thermal ignition. Impact sensitivity is also reduced, but not as dramatically as ESD, thermal, and friction ignition risk is reduced. BA also produces sound output equivalent in blast duration, decibel level, and pressures equivalent to the industry standard, German Dark Aluminum.
Making BA function properly: Ensure you have a reliable ignition system – which varies by the specific BA formulation used, and a suitable containment system, such as a rolled paper, cardboard cylinder and discs/glue, or a plastic casing. BA makes superb salutes and is felt by many manufacturers, based upon the testing data developed by the supplier, to substantially reduce the safety hazards of typical flash compound manufacturing.
Recommended ignition systems: For binary mixtures of BA and potassium perchlorate include electric matches, spolettes nosed with extra black match, and burst bags/burst containers using meal D powder of rice hulls/cork particles covered with black powder. Blends of 80% BA and fine flake aluminum make ignition easier while retaining most of the ignition source risk reduction seen with 100% BA uses. The data on formulations using sulfur are also provided. The formulation of 7 parts potassium perchlorate, 1 part sulfur, and 3 parts of a blend using 80% BA and 20% German or Indian Dark flake aluminum may be ignited by simple cross matching of time fuse and still has reduced thermal, friction, and ESD sensitivity compared to formulations using only fine flake aluminum.
Through smaller salutes using ten grams and even less of flash powder can be made to function, the supplier recommends BA for use in salutes containing 15 grams or more of flash powder. It is ideal for aerial salutes for 25 mm and larger sizes.
Quality: Each batch of Blue Aluminum is blended and formulated by the supplier to meet our exacting specifications. Every batch of BA is formally tested and data are produced for each batch certifying the exact ignition sensitivities and sound outputs. When purchasing Blue Aluminum for use in you salute manufacturing, you are guaranteed by the supplier that the data provided are specific to the batch sold and are certified by a reputable pyrotechnics laboratory, such as Pyro Labs/ Dr. Ken Kosanke.
Shipping: Blue Aluminum is packaged in steel drums ad shipped as a non-hazardous material.