Colored smoke
Encyclopedia
Colored smoke is a kind of smoke
created by an aerosol of small particles of a suitable pigment
or dye
.
Colored smoke can be used for smoke signal
s, often in a military context. It can be produced by smoke grenade
s, or by various other pyrotechnical devices. The mixture used for producing colored smoke is usually a cooler-burning formula based on potassium chlorate
oxidizer, lactose
or dextrin
as a fuel, and one or more dyes, with about 40-50% content of the dye. About 2% sodium bicarbonate
may be added as a coolant, to lower the burning temperature.
Smoke released from aircraft was originally based on a mixture of 10-15% dye, 60-65% trichloroethylene
or tetrachloroethylene
, and 25% diesel oil, injected into the exhaust gases of the aircraft engines.
Most commonly, teams now use specifically prepared liquid dyes and only gas oil, light mineral oil or a food grade white oil without harmful chlorinated solvents.
Some mixtures used for production of colored smokes contain these dyes:
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
created by an aerosol of small particles of a suitable pigment
Pigment
A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
or dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
.
Smoke signal
The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of communication in recorded history. It is a form of visual communication used over long distance.-History and usage:...
s, often in a military context. It can be produced by smoke grenade
Smoke grenade
Smoke grenades are canister-type grenades used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, or as screening devices for unit movements. Smoke grenades are normally considered non-lethal, although incorrect use may cause death...
s, or by various other pyrotechnical devices. The mixture used for producing colored smoke is usually a cooler-burning formula based on potassium chlorate
Potassium chlorate
Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen atoms, with the molecular formula KClO3. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline substance. It is the most common chlorate in industrial use...
oxidizer, lactose
Lactose
Lactose is a disaccharide sugar that is found most notably in milk and is formed from galactose and glucose. Lactose makes up around 2~8% of milk , although the amount varies among species and individuals. It is extracted from sweet or sour whey. The name comes from or , the Latin word for milk,...
or dextrin
Dextrin
Dextrins are a group of low-molecular-weight carbohydrates produced by the hydrolysis of starch or glycogen. Dextrins are mixtures of polymers of D-glucose units linked by α- or α- glycosidic bonds....
as a fuel, and one or more dyes, with about 40-50% content of the dye. About 2% sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula Na HCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda . The natural mineral form is...
may be added as a coolant, to lower the burning temperature.
Smoke released from aircraft was originally based on a mixture of 10-15% dye, 60-65% trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene
The chemical compound trichloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is a clear non-flammable liquid with a sweet smell. It should not be confused with the similar 1,1,1-trichloroethane, which is commonly known as chlorothene.The IUPAC name is...
or tetrachloroethylene
Tetrachloroethylene
Tetrachloroethylene, also known under its systematic name tetrachloroethene and many other names, is a chlorocarbon with the formula Cl2C=CCl2. It is a colourless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics, hence it is sometimes called "dry-cleaning fluid." It has a sweet odor detectable by...
, and 25% diesel oil, injected into the exhaust gases of the aircraft engines.
Most commonly, teams now use specifically prepared liquid dyes and only gas oil, light mineral oil or a food grade white oil without harmful chlorinated solvents.
Some mixtures used for production of colored smokes contain these dyes:
- Red:
- Disperse Red 9Disperse Red 9Disperse Red 9, also called C.I. 60505 and 1-methylamino anthraquinone, is a red dye derived from anthraquinone. It has the appearance of a red powder with melting point of 170-172 °C. Its EINECS number is 201-417-2....
(older, used eg. in the M18 grenadeGrenadeA grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
) - Solvent Red 1 with Disperse Red 11Disperse Red 11Disperse Red 11, also called C.I. 62015 and 1,4-diamino-2-methoxy anthraquinone, is a red dye derived from anthraquinone.Disperse Red 11 can be used in plastics and textiles industry to dye polyvinylchloride, acetate, polyester, polyamide, polyacryl and polyurethane materials and synthetic fibers,...
- Solvent Red 27 (C.I. 26125)
- Solvent Red 24
- Disperse Red 9
- Orange:
- Solvent Yellow 14 (C.I. 12055)
- Yellow:
- Vat Yellow 4Vat Yellow 4Vat Yellow 4 is a yellow synthetic anthraquinone vat dye. It has the appearance of a viscous orange liquid.Vat Yellow 4 is used mostly as a dye for textiles and paper....
with benzanthroneBenzanthroneBenzanthrone is an aromatic hydrocarbon derivate used as a dyestuff intermediate for anthraquinone-based dyes. It has the appearance of a light yellow to brown-green powder with melting point of 170 °C. It is insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol. It is a basic substance with fluorescent and...
(older) - Solvent Yellow 33
- Solvent Yellow 16 (C.I. 12700)
- Solvent Yellow 56
- Oil Yellow R
- Vat Yellow 4
- Green:
- Vat Yellow 4Vat Yellow 4Vat Yellow 4 is a yellow synthetic anthraquinone vat dye. It has the appearance of a viscous orange liquid.Vat Yellow 4 is used mostly as a dye for textiles and paper....
with benzanthroneBenzanthroneBenzanthrone is an aromatic hydrocarbon derivate used as a dyestuff intermediate for anthraquinone-based dyes. It has the appearance of a light yellow to brown-green powder with melting point of 170 °C. It is insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol. It is a basic substance with fluorescent and...
and Solvent Green 3 (older) - Solvent Yellow 33 and Solvent Green 3
- Solvent Green 3
- Oil Green BG
- Oil Green GQuinizarine Green SSQuinizarine Green SS, also called Solvent Green 3, C.I. 61565, Oil Green G, D&C Green #6, is a green dye, an anthraquinone derivative. It has the appearance of a black powder with melting point of 220-221 °C. It is insoluble in water. It is used for adding greenish coloring to materials. It is used...
- Vat Yellow 4
- Blue:
- Solvent Blue 35 (C.I. 26125)
- Solvent Blue 36
- Solvent Blue 5
- Violet:
- Disperse Red 9Disperse Red 9Disperse Red 9, also called C.I. 60505 and 1-methylamino anthraquinone, is a red dye derived from anthraquinone. It has the appearance of a red powder with melting point of 170-172 °C. Its EINECS number is 201-417-2....
with 1,4-diamino-2,3-dihydroanthraquinone1,4-Diamino-2,3-dihydroanthraquinone1,4-Diamino-2,3-dihydroanthraquinone is an anthraquinone dye used with Disperse Red 9 in colored smoke to introduce a violet color. It is also used in dyes and marine flares.- synthesis :... - Solvent Violet 13Solvent Violet 13Solvent Violet 13, also known as D&C Violet No.2, oil violet, Solvent Blue 90, Alizarine Violet 3B, Alizurol Purple, Duranol Brilliant Violet TG, Ahcoquinone Blue IR base, Disperse Blue 72, and C.I. 60725, is a synthetic anthraquinone dye with bright bluish violet hue...
- Disperse Red 9