Pyrotechnics By Alexander P. Hardt, Ph.D. The term pyrotechnics encompasses much more than Fireworks. From space shuttle booster rockets to ejection seats, near-infrared flares, and automotive airbags, pyrotechnics finds many industrial and military uses. The last serious attempt to deal with the full spectrum of pyrotechnics in one volume was Herbert Ellern’s Military and Civilian Pyrotechnics, first published in 1968 and later reprinted. In the past 32 years, many works have appeared on the narrower subjects of fireworks and “pyrotechnic chemistry,” but nothing with the broad scope of Ellern’s book. Unfortunately, Alexander Hardt did not live to see his book published, but he envisioned it as an update of Ellern, incorporating the many advances in research, computer technology, and general understanding of pyrotechnic phenomena that have occurred in the past three decades. In the history of its literature, this is certainly not the first time a work on pyrotechnics has been posthumously published. The very first printed book on pyrotechny, the Pirotecnia of Vannoccio Biringuccio, was published in 1540, after the author’s death. The first American work on the subject, A System of Pyrotechny, by Professor James Cutbush of the United States Military Academy at West Point, was published under similar circumstances. The late Dr. Hardt is remembered in pyrotechnic circles for his research and development work during 27 years at the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, his numerous contributions to the Encyclopedia of Explosives and Related Items (U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Command), and many other technical reports. In its present form, two new chapters augment the original material of Dr. Hardt: an extensive chapter on fireworks, by Barry L. Bush, and a chapter on the many advances in statistical analysis and computer applications by Dr. Barry T. Neyer, Director of Research and Development at PerkinElmer Optoelectronics and President of Neyer Software. Published in late 2001, the book has a 25-page introductory section, 23 chapters including a glossary, followed by a bibliography and an index along with four appendices. Interspersed throughout its 430 pages are 79 tables, 42 line drawings, and 46 photographs. Shipping weight 4 lbs.
