I was at an event with a giant, choreographed firework show. Like they literally brought in Japanese masters of pyrotechnics for it. It was beautiful and all kinds of shapes like flowers and hearts and stuff.
And afaik they do different colours by burning different elements but how do they do specific shapes and like timings? Like one piece of firework having several different layers and colours and stuff. How does it not all explode at the same time in all kinds of directions?
In: 1125
Generally speaking, the shape of the flower is directly correlated to how the shell is assembled. These shells are spherical. When they explode, momentum is imparted to each star. Stars near the edge of the sphere are given more momentum and fly further. Conventional “Oriental” style shells utilize rolled stars. Stars are rolled like gumballs in spinning drums and are built up with successive applications of solvent and composition. Careful rolling can yield layered stars which change color.
Consider the case of a ring shell. Stars are arranged around the equator of the spherical shell, with all void space filled with burst charge. When the shell explodes, the stars are propelled on a straight line outward from the equator forming a circle, or “ring” in the sky.
The shell’s explosive power comes from the burst charge. Conventionally this is black powder coated into an inert carrier such as rice hulls, but adjunct compositions are used to modify the performance. Stars are ignited by the burst charge, but stars burn only on the surface, which is why they burn for seconds rather than “instantaneously”.
Source: 15 years in the industry
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