A Strontium- and Chlorine-Free Pyrotechnic Illuminant of High Color Purity

The development of a red-light-emitting pyrotechnic illuminant has garnered interest from the pyrotechnics community owing to potential regulations by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regarding the use of strontium and chlorinated organic materials. To address these environmental regulatory concerns, the development of lithium-based red-light-emitting pyrotechnic compositions of high purity and color quality is described. These formulations do not contain strontium or chlorinated organic materials. Rather, the disclosed formulations are based on a non-hygroscopic dilithium nitrogen-rich salt that serves as both oxidizer and red colorant. These formulations are likely to draw interest from the civilian fireworks and military pyrotechnics communities for further development as they both have a vested interest in the development of environmentally conscious formulations.