Rocket Science

By 2009-07-01T00:00:00

Chemistry of fireworks cover

Adrian Guy reviews the new edition of The chemistry of fireworks 

The chemistry of fireworks (2nd edn)

Michael S. Russell

Cambridge: RSC 2008 | Pp192 | £24.99 | ISBN 978 0 85 404127 5 

If, like me, you are a keen demonstrator or a pyrotechnic enthusiast then this book will be excellent value for money. The text is full of information which has helped to solve some long standing problems of mine, such as the practical details to make gunpowder bangers - adding gunpowder meal to the granulated powder has really improved my results. I also found alternative recipes for rocket propellants, which proved to be spectacularly successful, for example the epoxy resin bound perchlorate mixture on page 58. 

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