What are the smoke bombs used by airplanes made of? A question of chemistry but not only!
A BIT OF HISTORY
Yes, it's true, in the past the elements used for the spectacular smoke trails left in the skies by airplanes was a compound based on chlorosulfonic acid and sulfuric acid,in particular in the execution of certain maneuvers, such as the representation of the "bomb", the pilots had to have great skill, coordination and experience to calculate the humidity rate of the air (being a hygroscopic compound, higher than average humidity caused it to be denser) and wind nodes, to prevent the compound from coming into contact with the spectators present, causing irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract but...yes there is a nice BUT because times have changed.
TODAY
Today the smoke bombs used in aerial events have a totally different base of elements and are characterized by a fuel (usually sugar), an oxidant (chlorates or nitrates) and a moderator component (sodium bicarbonate) which serves to prevent the jet from being too much heat and that the organic colors are pulverized.
And the colors of the smoke bombs?
Generally, an oil-based substance is used for the emission of white smoke, primarily vaseline oil (often the most used in demonstrations).
For colored smoke bombs, on the other hand, potassium perchlorate is used (nice to know: in medicine it is used, combined with other drugs, in the treatment for hyperthyroidism), combined with lactose and:
- RED = p-nitroaniline red
- ORANGE = chrysoidine orange
- YELLOW = auramine yellow
- GREEN = auramine yellow and indigo
- LIGHT BLUE = indigo
HOW DOES THE EXPULSION TAKE PLACE?
When the smoke bomb mixture (components listed above) burns, in the absence of oxygen, the dye evaporates and escapes from the special diffusion device and, condensing, generates colored smoke.
NICE TO KNOW:
Did you know that the PAN (National Acrobatic Team, or the Frecce Tricolori) smoke emission device is built by a company from Varese? If you are interested in discovering something more, read here: "The trails of the Frecce Tricolori are made in Varese".
WHAT ABOUT THE MAGIC?
It lies in combining the scientific and technical studies that made possible the creation and expulsion of smoke bombs, with the skills of the pilot. Because in the end, the wow effect arises when the maneuvers in the air dance in a colored curtain.
SO ARE CHEMICAL TRAILS?
YES! In the sense that smoke bombs are chemical compounds.
From here to the fact that if breathed, they lead to being controlled by government bodies or higher entities, well ... it would take another post!
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