Preheating slow-burning pyrotechnic compositions to aid ignition and combustion

Proposal is made to preheat the unburned mixture ahead of the reaction front in slow-burning pyrotechnic compositions by incorporating heat-conducting rods parallel to the direction of flame propagation. The objective is to enhance the reliability of ignition transfer and prevent flame quenching in marginally combustible mixtures. A Bruceton analysis of the results of a gap test on a slow-burning pyrotechnic composition, with and without heat-conducting rods, indicates that the mean gap for successful ignition transfer can be increased by almost an order of magnitude by incorporating the heat-conducting rods. (Author)