Rubidium in fireworks?

[Peter Fairbrother]

Are rubidium compounds ever actually used in fireworks?

What flame colour do rubidium compounds give?

Done lots of Googling, and came up with contradictory answers.

I know they have been tried experimentally, if anyone has the Journal of
Pyrotechnics - Issue 15, can they tell me what it says on this subject?

Thanks,

-- Peter Fairbrother

[Lloyd E. Sponenburgh]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Are rubidium compounds ever actually used in fireworks?
What flame colour do rubidium compounds give?
Done lots of Googling, and came up with contradictory answers

Peter, consider what would happen if copper were not commonly used in
fireworks -- you'd get contradictory answers about the color it rendered,
based upon the different colors that the different molecular species emit.

LLoyd

[rbirch]

Perhaps some of the contradicory answers come from the fact that
although the spectral emission of rubidium is red, the color it
produces when used in fireworks is crimson/purple. Oddly, it emits
purple at a cool temperature, about 650F, making it difficult to get a
large flame envelope without overheating it.

Another reason it is not commonly used in fireworks, at least these
days, is that because it has very few practical commercial uses, it is
considered rare and rather expensive compared to the strontiums and
coppers so widely used in industry.


Russ

[rbirch]

Perhaps some of the contradictory answers you're getting come
from the fact that although the spectral emission of rubidium is in
the red,
the color it produces when used in fireworks is purple. Oddly, it
emits
purple at a very narrow temperature band, about 695 -725C, making it
difficult
to get a large flame envelope without overheating it. Perhaps some who
have
a better understanding of chemistry could explain more.

Another reason it is not commonly used in fireworks, at least these
days, is that because it has very few practical commercial uses, it
is
considered rare and rather expensive compared to the strontiums and
coppers so widely used in industry.


Russ

[Bob]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
What flame colour do rubidium compounds give?

The color of burning money.

[Anon Emous]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Are rubidium compounds ever actually used in fireworks?
What flame colour do rubidium compounds give?
Done lots of Googling, and came up with contradictory answers.
I know they have been tried experimentally, if anyone has the Journal of
Pyrotechnics - Issue 15, can they tell me what it says on this subject?
Thanks,
-- Peter Fairbrother

I be aware of only two formula from legit sources --

Flare infrared 0.79u
PATR2700 P506 5th IPS pg311
Silicon 10.0%
Rubidium nitrate 60.8
Hexamine 23.2
Epoxy resin (DER 321) 4.2
Epoxy hardner (DEH 14) 1.8

Flare red
Douda 5th IPS pg214
Magnesium 43.2%
Ltihium/nitrate 51.1
Rubidium/nitrate 0.7
Binder 5.0


I suffer from the though that - if you are going to burn it - it
better be inexpensive

Have risen to the top the PML Admin's SL I have de camped to
rec.pyyotechnics. Lock-up
your women and children.

After brunch I'll pull da 5th IPS from the shelf and see if there is
any useful info.

[Anon Emous]

Post by Anon Emous

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Are rubidium compounds ever actually used in fireworks?
What flame colour do rubidium compounds give?
Done lots of Googling, and came up with contradictory answers.
I know they have been tried experimentally, if anyone has the Journal of
Pyrotechnics - Issue 15, can they tell me what it says on this subject?
Thanks,
-- Peter Fairbrother

I be aware of only two formula from legit sources --
After brunch I'll pull da 5th IPS from the shelf and see if there is
any useful info.

---------
Nothing of practical value strictly theoretical.

[Anon Emous]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Are rubidium compounds ever actually used in fireworks?
What flame colour do rubidium compounds give?

Check the obvious on line source and came up with :—

K & B Koankew & et al
Pyrotechnic Chemistry
J of Pyrotechniis 2204

Chapter 14
Glitter chemistry
Clive Jennings-White

Table 1. Formulations

#8 Potassium-free bright silver glitter (excellent but expensive)

Rubidium nitrate 50
Sulphur 10
Charcoal (air float) 10
Dextrin 5
Magnalium (50:50) -60 mesh 10
Antimony sulfide (fine powder) 10

Post by Peter Fairbrother
I know they have been tried experimentally, if anyone has the Journal of
Pyrotechnics - Issue 15, can they tell me what it says on this subject?

I do. Mostly theoretical, not easily abstracted.

Cites this comp from :—

C. Jennings-White
Some Esoteric Fireworks Materials
Pyrotechnica XIII
(1990) pp 26-32

Rubidium nitrate ~80
Shellac ~20

Flame colour — pale pink

From PT XIII

The conclusion in regard to esoteric alkali metals is that rubidium
and cesium
salts are of no value in the production of colored fires. Lithium
carbonate
turns up from time to time as a potential color imparter (e.g.,
Winokur 1980),
but nobody seems to know how to make it produce anything other than a
pale pink.

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Thanks,
-- Peter Fairbrother

Put the check in the mail please.