Strontium salts are widely used in red flame pyrotechnic compositions, usually combined with perchlorate salts as oxidizer. The potential environmental impact of perchlorate could be avoided by using high-nitrogen compounds. Therefore, the following nitrogen-rich strontium salts were prepared and characterized: strontium tetrazolate pentahydrate (1), strontium 1methyl-5-nitriminotetrazolate monohydrate (2), and strontium 1-(2-chloroethyl)-5-nitriminotetrazolate monohydrate (3). Their combustion behavior and both color intensity and purity were investigated in pyrotechnics. These results were compared with the US Army in-service signal formulation. Pyrotechnic compositions which are used for producing green flame colors contain barium salts, usually highly water-soluble and toxic barium nitrate, Ba(NO 3 ) 2 . In this research project copperbased colorants with energetic anions or ligands were developed. The compounds diammine bis(tetrazolato)amine copper(II) (4), diaqua copper(II) di(1-methyl-5-aminotetrazole) nitrate (5), diaqua copper(II) tetra(1-methyl-5-aminotetrazole) nitrate (6), and tetrammine copper(II) dinitramide (7) were synthesized and characterized.

The full-up prototype testing of perchlorate-free, hand-held, signal illuminants for the US Army's M126A1 red star parachute hand-held signal is described. Compared to the perchlorate-containing control, the disclosed illuminants yielded excellent stabilities toward various ignition stimuli while offering superior pyrotechnic performance. Militarily, the illuminants provided further evidence that development of smaller hand-held signal items in an environmentally conscious way is a realistic and obtainable goal. The results are also important from the perspective of civilian fireworks, as the development of brighter, longer-burning, and environmentally compatible red-light-emitting pyrotechnics is now possible.

Perchlorate‐free hand‐held signal illuminant formulations for the M126A1 red star parachute have been developed. The formulations exhibited longer burn times and higher luminous intensities compared to the US Army in‐service M126A1 formulation. The perchlorate‐free formulations derive their enhanced performance from the inclusion of strontium bis‐(1‐methyl‐5‐nitriminotetrazolate) monohydrate, the choice of magnesium used, and replacing a polyester binder system with an epoxy binder system.