The first “fireworks” were accidentally invented in China around 200 BC, when someone threw green bamboo into a fire. The crackling and popping sounds, and inevitable explosion, became a popular way to ward off evil spirits, and eventually became a way to bless and celebrate occasions such as weddings.
In the 9th century AD, fireworks became significantly more sophisticated thanks to the invention of huo yao (the fire drug), which was the precursor to black powder. By the Renaissance, Chinese fireworks had become popular across Europe, and Italian artisans refined the Chinese techniques to create the first artistic fireworks.
Today, fireworks are extremely sophisticated, utilizing a vast number of patterns and effects. Yet the creation process remains largely the same. Here’s how patterns and effects are created.
Basic Building Blocks
The shell is where any firework begins. While shells were once made of hollow green bamboo, today they consist of heavy paper and cardboard. The shell is stuffed with stars, doughy chemical compounds that create the specific patterns and effects.
Large, doughy stars burn longer, so they spew out far and wide and burn for awhile before disappearing. Battery-shaped pressed stars are used for palm trees and similar effects, as they have more mass and create broad strokes with lingering edges. Smiley faces and other shapes are created with multiple stars when the shell is packed, as the way they are packed is the way they will explode.
Chemical Reactions
The basic fireworks process is rooted in chemistry. Each firework uses a precise blend of oxidizers and reducing agents, along with a fuel source, to make the magic happen. While all fireworks manufacturers have their own closely-guarded trade secrets, the basic idea is that an initial lift charge is detonated, launching the firework and lighting a time-delayed fuse. This also triggers a series of chemical reactions that result in an explosion and the release of the stars at just the right the moment, in just the right carefully designed patterns and effects.
Colors
Naturally, patterns and effects are not enough to create a truly dynamite fireworks show. A variety of colors should also be in play. Different metals and metal salts are embedded in the stars. As the shell is heated, the electrons within the metals and metal salts become excited, increasing their stored energy. The excess energy is then released as light after the shell explodes.
Each metal or metal salt has a different-sized gap between the ground state and the excited state. This causes the light to be emitted at different wavelengths, which our eyes see as a rainbow of colors.
Elaborate Techniques
Today, audiences are not content with simple effects. Fireworks manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries and advancing fireworks technology to create ever more impressive patterns and effects. Specific techniques are proprietary to each company, but general theories can be explained by science.
One of the easiest ways to create more elaborate patterns is through the number and arrangement of stars within each shell. The more detailed the packing, the more intricate the pattern will be.
Multi-break shells have also become quite common. This means that there are multiple smaller shells packed within a single large shell. Each individual shell can then be packed with an elaborate assortment of stars, and each can explode on its own timetable. Multi-breaks can be used for everything from complicated patterns to seemingly endless show finales.
At Dynamite Fireworks, we don’t only sell top-quality, name-brand fireworks. We also provide the information you need to know to use them responsibly, legally, and safely. If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call at (219) 937-4090. We look forward to becoming your one-stop shop for all your fireworks needs!