Chemicals
Fuels
Metals
Aluminum (Al)
The most frequently used metal fuel. Bright white high temperature flame. Can interfere with colors. Often used in combination with boric acid to inhibit spontaneous reaction with nitrates. Commonly used in flash powder composition.
Comes in many different forms that all exhibit different properties in pyrotechnic compositions.
Dark Aluminum
Considered the best form of aluminum as a fuel source. Used in flash powder, thermite, stars, sparklers, etc.
Flake aluminum
Comes in a variety of mesh sizes from fine powder to large flakes and is typically used for effects like firefly and for bright white sparks.
Spherical aluminum
Used for glitter effects and small white sparks. Not as reactive and almost entirely useless for flash powder.
Magnesium (Mg)
Brighter and higher temperature than aluminum but also more sensitive, risking spontaneous combustion.
Iron (Fe)
Produces bright gold sparks.
Steel (Fe + C)
Produces branching gold sparks.
Titanium (Ti)
Produces bright white sparks. Coarse grinds can produce branching white sparks.
Carbons
Charcoal
Produces delicate gold sparks. Primary source of fuel in black powder compositions.
Soft Wood Charcoal
Good for black powder and other fast burning compositions. Produces finer wispy sparks.
Hard Wood Charcoal
Good for compositions that produce spark effects like fountains, rocket tails, and stars. It can be used to make black powder as well but is generally considered to be less efficient than soft wood charcoal for that purpose.
Lamp black
Used similarly to soft wood charcoal. Produces fine gold spark dust that lingers.
Sugars
Lactose
Frequently used in smoke compositions.
Dextrose
Used in some amateur rocket compositions.
Sorbitol
Used in some amateur rocket compositions.
Sucrose
Common table sugar. Used in amateur rocket and smoke compositions. Can also be used to make sugar stars.
Resins
Shellac
Doubles as a binder and a fuel source. Not water soluble, requiring the use of either pure alcohol or acetone. Considered to be one of the best fuel/binders for color compositions.
Red gum
Burns faster than shellac but is otherwise a common replacement in modern compositions.
Sulfur (S)
Used as a fuel additive to speed up other reactions and make compositions more sensitive to ignition. A main ingredient in black powder.
Oxidizers
Nitrates
Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
Common oxidizer used in black powder and other pyrotechnic compositions. Fairly stable and works best in high temperature mixes (like those with charcoal and sulfur or metals). Not as efficient in low temperature mixes (like with shellac).
Strontium nitrate (Sr[NO3]2)
As an oxidizer it works best at high temperatures but it also doubles as a source of color. Even without a chlorine donor, burning strontium nitrate will produce a bright red flame. With chlorine you can get a much deeper shade.
Barium nitrate (Ba[NO3]2)
Another nitrate oxidizer that doubles as a source of color. Commonly used for green flames (along with a chlorine donor) or white (in the absence of chlorine). When used with aluminum it is strongly advised to add boric acid prevent decomposition.
Toxic if ingested even in small quantities. Handle with caution.
Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
Produces a yellow flame with good illumination. Best in high temperature compositions.
Potassium perchlorate (KClO4)
Common and relatively stable oxidizer used in a wide range of compositions. A much safer replacement for potassium chlorate.
Potassium chlorate (KClO3)
This chemical isn’t recommended for amateur use. Extremely reactive and less stable than potassium perchlorate. Should not be used in compositions with sulfur due to high impact and friction sensitivity. Also potentially dangerous when mixed with ammonium salts (produces ammonium chlorate).
Binders
Dextrin
This is the most common binder for amateur fireworks in the U.S. and it works as a binder, a fuel source, and to slow the rate of combustion.
SGRS
Soluble Glutinous Rice Starch is a common binder in Japanese fireworks that’s used almost exactly like dextrin but is a more efficient binder, allowing for less to be used in the composition while still producing hard stars. It’s best to use the least amount of moisture possible since SGRS can be slow to dry and will droop before setting up if too much water is used.
Shellac
Red gum
Colorants
Strontium (red)
Strontium Nitrate
Calcium (orange)
Sodium (yellow)
Barium (green)
Barium Nitrate
Copper (blue)
Copper Oxychloride
In the presence of a chlorine donor, adding copper oxychloride to a composition will produce a deep blue flame. Without chlorine it can produce more pale green shades.
Chlorine donors
For more vibrant colors a source of free chlorine in the flame is required so compositions often add something known as a "chlorine donor". Potassium chlorate works as a donor to an extent, and potassium perchlorate to an even lesser extent, but with both of these color production is usually more pastel. For deep vibrant colors you'll need a source of chlorine.
Parlon
This chlorinated rubber is one of the best chlorine donors and it can also function as a binder for stars. Not commonly available outside of pyrotechnic chemical suppliers.
PVC
The shorthand for polyvinyl chloride, which is a plastic polymer that can be used as a chlorine donor and to some extent a fuel. Not as effective as parlon but much more widely available.