Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
January,  1920.  ) 
Notes  on  Aluminium  Flares. 
43 
tended  while  running  for  considerable  periods,  the  progress  being 
watched  from  a  safe  distance.  The  oil,  which  is  often  impure,  is 
undesirable  for  flare  purposes,  as  small  percentages  have  a  detri- 
mental effect  upon  the  brilliancy  and  vigor  of  the  flare  composi- 
tions, as  well  as  introducing  an  additional  element  of  risk  into  these 
explosive  combinations.  This  applies  more  to  aluminium  than  to 
magnesium,  for  paraffin  wax  can  be,  and  is,  used  in  considerable 
proportions  in  magnesium  combinations.  Paraffin  wax  does  not 
introduce  an  element  of  risk  here,  but  it  undoubtedly  has  a  greater 
retarding  effect  upon  aluminium  than  on  magnesium.  A  typical 
star  composition  is  composed  of: 
Magnesium  in  powder  (60  mesh) .   27  parts 
Aluminium  in  powder  (120  mesh)   9  parts 
Barium  Nitrate  (100  mesh)   58  parts 
Paraffin  Wax   6  parts 
The  paraffin  wax  is  melted  and  the  aluminium  and  magnesium 
incorporated  (away  from  any  naked  lights) .  The  mixture  should  be 
maintained  at  about  70°  C.  till  the  metallic  powder  is  thoroughly 
coated  with  the  melted  wax.  Allow  to  cool,  pass  through  a  sieve, 
and  then  mix  with  the  barium  nitrate.  The  barium  nitrate  must 
be  anhydrous  and  in  fine  powder.  The  whole  should  be  sifted  to 
ensure  uniformity.  The  composition  is  then  pressed  into  suitable 
containers,  with  priming  and  quick-match  for  ignition.  For  use 
as  a  ground  flare  a  short  length  of  ordinary  rolled  cardboard  tube 
plugged  at  one  end  with  clay  will  do  quite  well.    The  priming  may 
be: 
Sulphur   2  parts 
Saltpetre   6  parts 
Orpiment  (or  black  Antimony)   i  part 
made  into  a  paste  with  shellac  solution. 
Another  formula,  used  as  a  ground  light,  is  as  follows : 
Barium  Nitrate   3,000  grams 
Aluminium  (120  mesh)   800  grams 
Aluminium  (60  mesh)   400  grams 
Castor  Oil   60  grams 
An  excellent  flare,  fairly  slow  in  burning,  but  giving  a  good  light, 
and  used  in  illuminating  enemy  working  parties,  is  composed  of: 
