Break Charge

From PyroGuide

A shell without and a shell with break charge

A break charge, also known as a burst charge, is a small explosive charge inside an aerial shell that ignites explosively at the proper height, almost instantly producing a large volume of fiery gasses which ignites and spreads the contents of the shell.

Typical break charges (in approximate order from most to least powerful) are made from:

1. Flash powder
2. H3 on a medium such as rice hulls
3. KP on a medium such as rice hulls
4. Granulated black powder, or Corned black powder
5. meal coated on a medium such as rice hulls

A stronger break can be achieved by adding a small amount of booster, of which following are typical:

1. Perchlorate Flash powder
2. Whistle mix
3. Nitrate Flash powder