Organic substitutes for charcoal in black powder

Abstract

The instant invention relates to a black powder type pyrotechnic composit comprising potassium nitrate, sulfur and an organic crystalline compound as a fuel in place of the charcoal conventionally employed. The organic compound contains at least one hydroxyl group or carboxyl group, including salts thereof, attached to an aromatic, e.g. benzene ring, and contains 75 (±20) percent carbon, 25 (±20) percent oxygen, 5 (±5) percent hydrogen and up to 20 percent of other elements, on a weight percent basis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a solid pyrotechnic composition containing: A. about 75 weight percent potassium nitrate,   B. about 10 weight percent elemental sulfur, the improvement consisting essentially of:   C. about 15 weight percent of an organic crystalline compound selected from the group consisting of: 1. fluorescein,   2. phenolphthalein,   3. 1,5 naphthalenediol,   4. anthraflavic acid,   5. terephthalic acid,   6. phenolphthalin,   7. the alkali metal salts of 1 to 6, and     
     
     
       8. mixtures of 1 to 6. 
     
     
       2. In a solid pyrotechnic composition containing: A. about 75 weight percent potassium nitrate,   B. about 10 weight percent elemental sulfur, the improvement consisting essentially of:   C. about 15 weight percent of an organic crystalline compound selected from the group consisting of: 1. quinalizarin,   2. quinizarin,   3. leucoquinizarin,   4. hydroquinone,   5. catechol,   6. the alkali metal salts of 1 to 5, and   7. mixtures of 1 to 6.