Modelling of Pyrotechnic Mixtures

Pyrotechnic compositions are mixtures of a fuel and an oxidizer, of which at least one of the two is in particle form. Both together form a metastable system that reacts strongly exothermically after ignition in a combustion process without ambient oxygen. In addition to the concentrations of fuel and oxidizer, the burning behaviour of such a system is determined by the heat of reaction, the particle size, the melting, evaporation and decomposition of the particles, the heat and mass transport and the reaction kinetics. The distribution and location of the individual particles also play an important role for the burning rate and the temperature of the overall reaction.