Luminescence Performance of Red Pyrotechnics in the Presence of High-Energy Explosives with Different Energetic Groups

In order to investigate the effect of different types of explosives on the luminescence performance of red color composite, five types of high-energy explosives containing different energetic groups, i.e., TNT (nitro-based), PETN (nitrate ester-based), RDX (nitramine-based), GAP (azide-based), and TAGZT (azo-based), were added to red-color composites. The uniformity of the composites was studied using SEM and EDS analyses. The thermal reactivity and safety were also evaluated. The combustion performances of the formulations were investigated in combination via visible light spectrometry, thermal infrared imagery, and high-speed color photography. The results indicated that all high energy explosives have a significant promoting effect on the luminescence performance of red-color composites. Among them, TNT, PETN, and RDX had similar promotion effects, and GAP had the poorest promotion effect. Especially, for TAGZT, the spectral purity of the composite with TAGZT added reached 93.4% at 614 nm; the luminous intensity reached 224 cd, and the luminous efficiency reached 459 cd·s·g–1; and its combustion temperature reached 1354 °C. The light it emits when burning is deep red and it is the most luminescent red color composite among all samples. Furthermore, it should be noted that the mechanical and thermal sensitivities of all color composites did not be punished after adding high-energy explosives.