The Secrets of

Pyrotechnic Whistles

Joseph A. Domanico
VP Publications / Webmaster
Crackerjacks, Inc.
drpyro@home.com
Who Was That Masked Man?
n Crackerjacks, Inc
n Vice President
n Publications
n Webmaster: www.crackerjacks.org
n Department of the Army
n Chief, Pyrotechnics Team (26 years)
n LTC Maryland Army National Guard
Vibrational Burning
Major Chemicals for Pyrotechnic Whistles

Gallic Acid C 7 H 6O 5

Sodium Salicylate C 7 H 5NaO 3

Potassium Picrate C 6 H 2KN 3 0 7

Potassium Benzoate C 7 H 5K0 2

Potassium Dinitrophenate C 6 H 3N 2 O 5 K

Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate KC 8 H 5O 4

 Formulation Efficiency
Potassium B e nzoate : Potassium Pe rc hlo ra te
For Carbon Mo noxide Only:
2 KC 7H5O 2 . 3 H20 + 4 KClO 4 K 2O + 4 KCl + 11 H 2O + 14 CO
yields sto ichiometric fue l:oxid izer ratio o f 44:56

For Carbon Dioxide Only:

4 KC 7 H 5O 2 . 3 H20 + 15 KClO 4 2 K 2O + 15 KCl + 22 H 2O + 28 CO 2
yields sto ichiometric fue l:oxid izer ratio o f 29:71
Typical Whistle Design
Air Void

Whistle Composition

Solid Acrylic Rod

Potassium Potassium
Benzoate Perchlorate
27 PBW 73 PBW
40mm Whistle
 Typical Noise Levels
Discomfort
Whisper
Conversation Tickle
Alarm Clock
5/4 Ton Truck
Disc Sander Pain
Powersaw
Chainsaw
Pneumatic Hammer
Firecracker
Cap Pistol
Shotgun
TOW Missile
0 50 100 150 200

dBA (85) dBP (140)

Current uses
Incoming artillery shell

Training
booby èEntertainment
trap fireworks
Artillery Simulator
(small whistle….loud blast)
 Output Energy Comparison
Composition Cal per gram

Base Whistle Composition 3,394

Photoflash 2,491
Bullseye Smokeless Powder 1,753
A1A Ignition Mix 903
Red Smoke Mix 895
 Ignition Temperatures
Composition (degrees C)

Bullseye Smokeless Powder 192

Red Smoke Composition 198

Pyrotechnic Whistle Composition 432

A1A Ignition Composition 437

Photoflash Composition 545

 Possible Formulations
Gallic Acid 24
Sodium Salicylate 28
Potassium Picrate 50
Potassium Benzoate 30
Potassium Dinitrophenate 70
Potassium Chlorate 73
Potassium Perchlorate 75 70
Potassium Nitrate 50 30
 Pyrotechnic Whistle Fuels
Sodium

Increasing
Hazard
Potassium
Salicylate
Benzoate

Potassium
Potassium Hydrogen
Dinitrophenate Phthalate

Gallic
Acid Potassium
Picrate
Detonation Tendency
O
OH
OH C OH Gallic Acid
OH

S o dium S a licylate O C Na

OH

C O - K+ Pota s s ium Be nzoate

NO2 O - K+
Pota s s ium Dinitrophe nate
NO2

NO2

NO2 O - K+ Pota s s ium Picrate

NO2
Oxidizer Substitution
All Band Pass Comparison
Potassium Benzoate / Oxidizer
130
Percent Fuel
120
Amplitude (dB)

110

100

90

80
20 25 30 35 40 45 50
70

Time

Potassium Chlorate Potassium Perchlorate

 Equipment Information
Company RION

Model NA-29
Measurement Range 27-130 dB(A)

Frequency Range 20-8000 Hz

(9 octaves)
Dynamic Range 50 dB (80-130)

Capacity 1500 screens

Store period 2 ms to 10 sec

RS-232 Interface 9600 baud rate

Battery life (AA) 4 hours

Frequency Band Comparison
Control
120
Whistle

100

80

Stainless 3

Steel
Frequency Band Comparison
Control
120
Whistle

100

0
80
1

Aluminum 3

Flake
 Frequency Band Comparison
Control
120
Whistle

100

0
80
1
2
3
4

Guanidine 5
6
7

Nitrate
Burn Rate Reduction
Frequency Band Analysis
2K Band Response vs Percent Red Gum
140
0%

130 5%
Amplitude (db)

120 10%

15%
110
20%

100
25%

90 30%

35%
80
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time (seconds)
 Burning Rate Reduction
6
Base
5 Sulfur
Clay
4
mm/sec

Red Gum
3 PVA
Cornstarch
2
Mekon White
1 MP 12
Acrawac C
0
Amplitude Increase by Diameter
57mm 2.25"
81
44mm 1.75"

32mm 49
1.25"

19mm 25 0.75"
9
13mm 4 0.50"
1
6mm 0.25"
Actual Diameter Effect
UAV Whistle Submunition
Typical Whistle Design
Air Void

Whistle Composition

Solid Acrylic Rod

Potassium Potassium
Benzoate Perchlorate
27 PBW 73 PBW
High – Low Whistle Design
Air Void

Expelled Insert

Whistle Composition

Solid Acrylic Rod

Potassium Potassium
Benzoate Perchlorate
27 PBW 73 PBW
Hi-Lo Whistle Design

Air Void

Expelled Insert

Whistle Composition

Solid Acrylic Rod

Potassium Potassium
Benzoate Perchlorate
27 PBW 73 PBW
Step Whistle Design
Air Void

Whistle Composition

Solid Acrylic Rod

Potassium Potassium
Benzoate Perchlorate
27 PBW 73 PBW
Step Whistle Design
Air Void

Whistle Composition

Solid Acrylic Rod

Potassium Potassium
Benzoate Perchlorate
27 PBW 73 PBW
35mm Whistle Grenade
Small E.G.A.D.
4 inches high
M201A1 fuze
Reduced effects

Expendable Ground Acoustic Device

Binder Effect
6
5% Binder
Burn Rate (mm/sec)

0
Baseline Clay Cornstarch
Sulfur Red Gum MP12 Wax
Binder Effect
130
5% Binder
Peak Amplitude (dB)

125

120

115

110

105

100
Baseline Clay Cornstarch
Sulfur Red Gum MP12 Wax
 Binder Effect
130
Average Amplitude (dB)

5% Binder
125

120

115

110

105

100
Baseline Clay Cornstarch
Sulfur Red Gum MP 12 Wax
 Peak vs Average Amplitude
130
5% Binder
Amplitude (dB)

125

120

115
Peak
110

105

100
Average
Baseline
Sulfur Clay
Cornstarch
Red Gum MP12 Wax
 Whistle Quality
12
Smoothness Factor

5% Binder
10

0
Baseline Clay Cornstarch
Sulfur Red Gum MP 12 Wax

(Peak Amplitude Minus Average Amplitude)

 Burn Rate vs Binder Percent vs Amplitude
6 130

Peak Amplitude (dB)

Baseline
Burn Rate (mm/sec)

125
5 Sulfur
120
Clay
4 115 Red Gum
110 Cornstarch
3
105 MP 12 Wax

2 100
5% 10% 15%
Binder Percent
Burn Rate vs Average Amplitude
Average Amplitude (dB)

120
5% Binder
118
Baseline
116 Sulfur
Clay
114
Red Gum
112 Cornstarch
110
MP 12 Wax

108
2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5

Burn Rate (mm/sec)

 Burn Rate Comparison +10%

4.9

4.8

4.7

4.6 Control
MgAl
Burn Rate (mm/sec)
4.5
SS Powder
4.4 Sulfur

4.3

4.2

4.1

4
 Burn Rate Comparison +10%

4.5

3.5
GuNO3
3
NaNO3
Burn Rate (mm/sec) 2.5 BaNO3
2 Control
1.5
SrNO3

0.5

0
 Smoothness Factor
(Max imum - Average) Amplitude
14
12 BaNO3
GuNO3
10
NaNO3
8 SrNO3
Decibels (dB)
6 Control
Sulfur
4
Al Flake Crs
2 SS Powder
0 MgAl
Amplitude Increase
Oxidizer Highlights
122

122 FeO
Fe2O3
Peak Amplitude (dB)

121
Control PbO
121
Cu2O
120
CuO
ZnO Pb3O4
120

119 MnO2
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
Burn Rate (in/sec)
Fuel Effect on Burn Rate
Burn Rate Comparison
10% Additive
5.4
5.2
5 Control
4.8 MgAl
Burn Rate
4.6 SS Powder
(mm/sec)
4.4 Sulfur
4.2 Al Flake Crs
4
3.8
 Inorganic Fuel Highlights
121.5
Fe(-)
121 Control Zn
Ti
Peak Amplitude (dB)

120.5
Si
Mg
120
Fe(+) Al
119.5 Mn

119 Cu B

118.5
0.2 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.25 0.26 0.27

Burn Rate (in/sec)

 Organic Fuel Results
Charcoal
122
121 Control Red gum
Peak Amplitude (dB)

120
119
118
117 Terephthalic acid
116
115 Sucrose
114
113
Stearic acid
112
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Burn Rate (in/sec)

 Fine Powdered Iron High
Loading
Results
0.35

Peak Amplitude (dB)

0.3 121
Burn Rate (in/sec)

0.25 120

0.2 119
0.15 118
0.1 117
0.05 116
115
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Additional Percent
 High
Loading
Black Copper Oxide Results

0.35 122

Peak Amplitude (dB)

Burn Rate (in/sec)

0.3 121
0.25 120
0.2 119
0.15 118
0.1 117
0.05 116
0 115
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Additional Percent
Flame Reduction
Spark Comparison

100

Fe 325

Control
Fe

10%
Metal Ti
Powder SS
 Spark Comparison

10%
Red Gum Powder
Control

Charcoal
 Flame Shape Comparison

Control Zinc Magnesium Charcoal

Coarse Iron Fine Iron Titanium Strontium Nitrate

Spark Comparison
Al Control

10%
Metal
Mg Powder Zn
Increased Compaction Pressure

2000 psi 3000 psi 4000 psi

5000 psi 6000 psi 7000 psi

8000 psi 9000 psi 10,000 psi

 Whistle vs Blast Comparison
130

125
Amplitude (dB)

120 Magnesium ITLX

Airburst Flash
115
Titanium BP Class 8
110
Concussion Pyro Whistle
105

100
Time -->
Amplitude Increase by Diameter
57mm 2.25"
81
44mm 1.75"

32mm 49
1.25"

19mm 25 0.75"
9
13mm 4 0.50"
1
6mm 0.25"
3 Inch Diameter Test Whistle