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Types Of Fireworks;
DAYTIME FIREWORKS
Unlike the vast majority of fireworks which are designed for use only at nightime, there are some types which are designed either specifically for daytime use, or for use in either day or night time. Rather than emmiting sparks or bright effects, daytime fireworks typically emit either smoke or paper (confetti) effects.
Smoke Bombs
Smoke items most commonly come in the form of small circular balls with a short safety fuse emerging from the top, or cylindrical "smoke grenades" which create thick clouds of smoke for up to 2 minutes.. The smoke comes in a wide range of colours usually indicated by the colour of the outer casing or a label on it.
For professional use there are also ariel shells and repeaters available which produce smoke rather than conventional daytime effects.
How Fireworks Work - Smoke Bombs
The most famous consumer smoke device is a large ball of clay with a hollow center containing a mixture of powdered dye, potassium chlorate and lactose. This composition burns at a relatively low temperature, evaporating the dye into fine particles and dispersing them into the air.
The burning composition needs to be vented rapidly to prevent the dye particles reacting with oxygen and burning up, so smoke bombs will be seen to give off there smoke at a very rapid rate and burning out quite quickly. Preventing the smoke from freely exiting the casing usually results in the device "flaming out"
Parachutes
Parachutes come in two different types - day and night. Each type can be further broken down into single or multiple shots. "Single" parachutes launch a canister high into the air, where it bursts into one or two parachutes. The "paratrooper" has a strobe or coloured star composition in it, which burns brightly as it slowly falls down.
Multiple shot parachutes look more like a tall, thin cake or fountain consisting of many tubes, they can fill the sky with almost a hundred different coloured parachutes which rain down everywhere. Daytime parachutes contain different coloured smoke effects.
How Fireworks Work - Parachutes
Aerial parachutes have a complex internal construction very similar to an aerial shell but with the addition of a parachute tube. The body of the firework is either a single launch tube with a square base, or clusters of tubes that look like a tall cake.
The launch tubes are thick enough to withstand the forces of the loud and powerful lift charge which when ignited blasts a "parachute tube" high into the air. As the charge is flying upwards a time fuse is burning inside it which at the apex of flight ignites a tiny burst charge. This burst (or "ejection") charge blasts the parachutes from the parachute tube (paper wadding is placed between the burst charge and parachutes to prevent them from burning).
The tissue parachutes are attached to small chunks of tube filled with clay ballast. They are packed together tightly, allowing several parachutes to be placed inside a single parachute tube. Sometimes the weight tube is filled with a steady-burning star or strobe composition. A short piece of fuse transfers fire from the parachute tube's burst charge to the composition in the weight, which emits its effect as it drifts down from the sky.
Firecrackers
Firecrackers are undoubtedly the most prolific form of fireworks in the world. Used in ceremonies around the world to drive away evil spirits, you can hear them exploding in huge streams on the front of ocean going fishing boats in Thailand or see the streets of Amsterdam lined in blood red paper annually after the firecracker mayhem of Queens Day and New Years Eve.
From strings of a dozen tiny squibs to boxes of thousands of extremely large and very loud crackers, they are found in many different sizes and quantities. Due to the effect produced by Firecrackers being primarily a sound effect, these are by far the most widely used daytime fireworks.
How Fireworks Work - Firecrackers
Firecrackers are the simplest and oldest of fireworks. A single firecracker is comprised of a layered paper tube, plugged at both ends with clay. Each tube contains a small amount of flash powder which when ignited by the flame from the fuse, creates a large volume of hot gas in a short period of time. The building pressure of the gas bursts the tube causing the familiar loud "crack" and red paper litter.
The Fireworks Company Thailand accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any injuries or accidents that occur as a result of attempting any of the displays or projects mentioned in this site, or as a result of use or misuse of any pyrotechnic products purchased from us. We highly recommend the use of professional display service for anything other than consumer 1.4G Fireworks with shells 1.75" or less in diameter.