Guanidinium 5,5'-Azotetrazolate: A Colorful Chameleon for Halogen-Free Smoke Signals

A progressive halogen-free multicolored smoke system to obtain white, red, violet, yellow, green, and blue smoke color is presented. The nitrogen-rich salt guanidinium 5,5'-azotetrazolate (GZT), which is usually applied as a gas generator or propellant ingredient, was combined with different smoke dyes (Solvent Red 1, Solvent Violet 47, Solvent Green 3, Solvent Yellow 33). These two-component smoke mixtures offer a convenient and safe multicolor approach without the need for potassium chlorate or any other hazardous material. The common smoke characteristics with respect to burn time/burn rate, yield factor, transfer rate, as well as energetic properties were determined and compared with classic chlorate-based formulations currently used. To the best of our knowledge, nothing comparable is known in the literature and a completely new research area in modern pyrotechnics is opened.