Information


CANDIDATE MATERIAL	APPLICATION(S)	FIREFOX STOCK #

Binder/adhesive, Dextrine, yellow/white	Water soluble (aqueous) solution binder, cannot be used in formulations with reactive metals such as magnesium.	C146
Binder/adhesive, Guar gum	Water soluble (aqueous) solution binder, cannot be used in formulations with reactive metals such as magnesium. Better adhesive properties than dextrine.	C147B1
Binder/adhesive, Nitrocellulose 4000 [C6H7(NO2)3O5]n flake or lacquer (nitrated **polysaccharide)	Enhances ignition properties, moistureproofs, fast drying. Combustion creates N which displaces atmospheric oxygen in the reaction to help reduce (not eliminate) flaming. Widely used as a binder in smoke formulations, especially color smoke. As a binder and/or to granulate the mixture, a 4-6% solids solution is used. Solvents are acetone, butyl acetate, ethanol, ether, MEK, methanol or mixtures thereof, depending on evaporation rate desired.	C163/NCS
Binder/adhesive, PVA polyvinyl alcohol	Water soluble (aqueous) solution binder, cannot be used in formulations with reactive metals such as magnesium.	C165D
Binder/adhesive, Red gum, accaroides	Alcohol soluble (methanol) binder used in some formulations with reactive metals.	C176

Coolants, Magnesium carbonate	Reduces combustion heat and produces non-flammable gas to prevent flaming, such a coolant is mandatory in color dye formutations.	C162
Coolants, Sodium bicarbonate	Reduces combustion heat and produces non-flammable gas to prevent flaming, Such a coolant is mandatory in color dye formutations.
Coolants, Titanium dioxide	Formula stabilizer, reduces combustion heat and produces non-flammable gas to prevent flaming, Such a coolant is mandatory in color dye formutations.	C198CD

Curative, Dabco TMR-5 cure catalyst	Cure rate catalyst used in combination with CTPB polymers and epoxy as both fuel and binder.	C144TMR-5
Curative, Versamid 140 or 253	Epoxy curatives	C199B

Fuel, Aluminum powder, paint grade	Combustion produces white to grey smoke depending on percentage used. Creates higher combustion temps.	C104AP
Fuel, Anthracene, hydrocarbon	Hydrocarbon, used for black smoke with hexachloroethane and ammonium perchlorate
Fuel, Boron carbide, B4C	Used in combination with ammonium chloride, potassium chlorride, calcium stearate, lithium phosphate, potassium nitrate and PVA.
Fuel, Calcium silicide powder	Produces white smoke in combination with zinc oxide, hexachloroethane and ammonium perchlorate.	C127
Fuel, Calcium stearate	Used as a substitute for stearic acid and/or other stearines (phlegmatizers) to reduce friction, ease pressing and suppress flaming.
Fuel, Carboxylic acids	Carboxylic acids that can be used in white smoke formulations include; acetic, butyric, citric, formic, lactic, palmitic and propionic. Combined with potassium chlorate and fuel(s), they are the main smoke agent (white smoke).
Fuel, Cellulose; (C6H10O5)n **polysaccharide: many forms; plant fibers; cottons, gums, starches, sugars, etc.	Derived from living plant waste, cellulose has many forms and many uses as a stable fuel in smoke formulations. **polysaccharide: many forms; plant fibers; cottons, gums, starches, sugars, etc.
Fuel, Chlorinated rubber	Chlorinating compound and binder.	C163E
Fuel, **Corn starch	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.
Fuel, Dechlorane	Chlorinating agent used with magnesium and/or rubber powder for black smoke (reduced flaming over hexachloroethane).	C145
Fuel, **Dextrine, white or yellow	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.	C146
Fuel, **Dextrose	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.	C146A
Fuel, Diatomaceous earth	Usad as an absorbant in formulations using smoke agents such as glycerine, mineral oil or propylene glycol.	C146A2
Fuel, Dyes; anthraquinone, azo, solvent,	Dyes suitable for use must be able to freely vaporize at a lower temperature than its decomposition point rendering low ash percentage. The wider the gap between vaporize and decomposition temps, the better.
Fuel, **Fructose	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.
Fuel, **Glucose	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.
Fuel, Hexachloroethane, HCE	Chlorinating agent, acting as both oxidizer and fuel, produces white or black smoke depending on the formulation.	C149B
Fuel, Hexamethylinetetramine , hexamine	Limited role in smoke formulations but is a good fuel in low percentages because it slows the combustion rate and increases combustion heatover other suitable fuels.	C149C
Fuel, **Lactose	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.	C152
Fuel, Magnesium powder, coated	Useed in combination with chlorinating compounds to create black smoke.	C159B60M
Fuel, Naphthalene, C10H8, hydrocarbon	Hydrocarbon, used for black smoke with hexachloroethane and ammonium perchlorate
Fuel, Nitrocellulose 4000 [C6H7(NO2)3O5]n flake or lacquer (nitrated **polysaccharide)	Enhances ignition properties, moistureproofs, fast drying. Combustion creates N which displaces atmospheric oxygen in the reaction to help reduce (not eliminate) flaming.	C163/NCS
Fuel, Phalic acid	Substitute for precursor phthalic anhydride.
Fuel, Phosphorous, red	Of all the smoke agents listed here, red phosphorous produces the largest and highest density smoke cloud of any. Mixtures include guanidine nitrate, hexachloroethane, magnesium and various polymers.
Fuel, Phthalic anhydride	Dye precursor, produces copious combustion gasses, aids in the dye sublimation process.
Fuel, Polyvinylchloride, PVC powder	Used as both fuel, smoke agent and binder in smoke formulations. As a binder, the mixture is pressed into pellets or candles and heated to a temperature of approx 230-250 F.	C166
Fuel, Rubber powder	30 to 50 mesh granules, used to make black smoke with magnesium, hexachloroethane and ammonium perchlorate.	C177A
Fuel, Stearic acid, phlegmatizer	Added to formulations with chlorates to reduce friction sensitivity (phlegmatize). Vaporizes into a colorless vapor, has tendancy to flame.	C188
Fuel, **Sucrose, granular or confectioners'	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors. Creates larger ash than most other cellulosic materials such as dextrose, lactose and starches.
Fuel, Sulfur	One of the most widely used fuels in pyrotechnics, adding low ignition points, even combustion rates and large volumes of combustion gasses.	C196
Fuel, Sulfamic acid	Used as a fuel and white smoke agent in mixtures desiring these qualities. It melts and decomposes into water, sulfur trioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen. Used in smoke mixtures, it produces very dense white smoke but has a rather high ignition point,requiring a hot slag producing prime for ignition.	C195
Fuel, Terephthalic acid	Used in both white and color smoke formulations
Fuel, Thiourea, organosulfur	Used as a fuel and smoke agent in some color smoke formulations.	C196THIO
Fuel, Titanium dioxide	White smoke production and formula stabilizer. Reduces combustion heat and produces non-flammable gas to prevent flaming, Such a coolant is mandatory in color dye formutations.	C198CD
Fuel, Urea, carbamide, powder	Retardant used to reduce and/or eliminate flaming in some smoke formulations.	C1991A
Fuel, Wax, synthetic or paraffin	Vaporizes/sublimes to form a cloud of micro droplets we view as white smoke.
Fuel, **Wheat flour	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors.
Fuel, **Wood flour	**polysaccharide used as a fuel and filler in some smoke formulations, both white and colors. Aids in ignition.
Fuel, Zinc oxide, powder	Used as a smoke whitening agent, burns very well with many oxidizers and cellosic fuels. Produces zinc chloride white smoke.	C202
Fuel, Zinc powder, epoxy coated	Low ignition point, copious quantities of zinc chloride white smoke. Do not use in formulations with ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and/or urea.	C201

Kerosine or Mineral spirits	Added to color smoke mixtures to keep dust down when mixing and pressing

Oxidizer, ammonium nitrate	Used in combination with newspapers and/or other cellulosic material(s) and wax, produces white smoke. Do not use in combinations with ammonium chloride or zinc. Spontaneous ignition will occur.	C106
Oxidizer, ammonium perchlorate	Used in many white smoke formulations, slower combustion rates, excellent smoke with fuels such as mineral oil, glycerine or propylene glycol, PVC sulfamic acid and zinc oxide.	C108
Oxidizer, Guanidine nitrate	Both oxidizer and fuel, lowers combustion rates somewhat.	C147GN
Oxidizer, Hexachloroethane, HCE	Acting as both oxidizer and fuel, produces both white or black smoke depending on the formulation.	C149B
Oxidizer, Potassium chlorate	Used in many smoke formulations because of its low ignition poit with a fuel and low combustion temperatures, mandatory assets for use in color smoke formulations.	C168
Oxidizer, Potassium nitrate	Mainly used in combination with waxes and/or sucrose for white smoke.	C170
Oxidizer, Potassium perchlorate	Used where an increase of combustion heat is required to vaporize or decompose the ingredientsmore fully to reduce ash. Cannot ne used in color smoke mixtures because of the elevated combustion temperatures.	C172

Plasticizer, Glycerine & Glycerol	Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.
Plasticizer, DBP, DOA, DOP, DOS, EHA	Used in composite formulations (crosslinking polymer binders) to reduce the viscosity for mixing. Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.	Go Here
Plasticizer, Mineral (paraffin) oil	Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.	SMKFOG
Plasticizer, Propylene glycol	Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.

Polymer, Polyester F17-80, CTPB	Used in composite propellnts, it is also an excellent choice for smoke formulations as fuel and binder.	C165
Polymer, PBAN, CTPB	Used in composite propellnts, it is also an excellent choice for smoke formulations as fuel and binder.	C164
Polymer, Polybutadiene R-45, HTPB	Used in composite propellnts, it is also an excellent choice for smoke formulations as fuel and binder.	C165B

Resin, Epoxy DER-331	Curative used with CTPB polymer binders. Also used as a binder with its curative an epoxy curative (Firefox sells Versamid 140 and 253).	C1462
Resin, Furan	Used in both propellant and smoke formulations. Viscosity can be adjusted easily by the percentage of thinner furfuryl alcohol with the furan resin. A 50% mixture of zinc chloride in ethanol is used to cure/crosslink @ 150 F.
Resin, Nitrocellulose lacquer	Widely used as a binder in smoke formulations, especially color smoke. As a binder and/or to granulate the mixture, a 4-6% solids solution is used. Solvents are acetone, butyl acetate, ethanol, ether, MEK, methanol.	C163C

Smoke-Main Formulae Smoke Agent(s);
Ammonium chloride (*do not* mix with ammonium nitrate, urea or zinc)	Highly endothermic thus lowering the combustion temperatures of smoke mixtures using it. Produces white smoke but can be used in color smoke formulations as well.	C105
Calcium silicide	Produces white smoke in combination with zinc oxide, hexachloroethane and ammonium perchlorate.	C127
Carboxylic acids	Carboxylic acids that can be used in white smoke formulations include; acetic, butyric, citric, formic, lactic, palmitic and propionic. Combined with potassium chlorate and fuel(s), they act as the main smoke agent (white smoke).
Dechlorane	In combination with magnesium and/or rubber powder for copious black smoke (flames).	C145
Glycerine & Glycerol	Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.
Hexachloroethane, HCE	Acting as both oxidizer and fuel, produces white or black smoke depending on the formulation.	C149B
Magnesium powder	In combination with hexachloroethane and/or dechlorane and/or rubber powder for copious black smoke (flames).	C159B60M
Mineral (paraffin) oil	Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.	SMKFOG
Propylene glycol	Vaporizes under heat forming micro droplets we view as white 'smoke'.
Sulfamic acid	Used as a fuel and white smoke agent. It melts and decomposes into water, sulfur trioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen. Used in smoke mixtures, it produces very dense white smoke but has a rather high ignition point,requiring a hot slag producing prime for ignition.	C195
Wax, synthetic or paraffin	In combination with ammonium or potassium nitrate, vaporizes easily forming copious quntities of white 'smoke'. Can be used with dyes for color smoke. Has a tendancy to flame (needs C02 in the gas stream).
Zinc oxide, powder	Used as a smoke whitening agent, burns very well with many oxidizers and cellosic fuels. Produces zinc chloride white smoke.	C202
Zinc powder, epoxy coated	Lowers ignition point, copious quantities of zinc chloride white smoke. Do not use in formulations with ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and/or urea.	C201

Legend; ** = Polysaccharide