Thermal analysis (TA) and bomb calorimeter experiments have been conducted to examine thermal behavior of some pyrotechnic mixtures, containing lactose as a fuel and an oxidant among common oxidizing agents including potassium chlorate (KClO(3)), potassium permanganate (KMnO(4)), potassium nitrate (KNO(3)), potassium perchlorate (KClO(4)), barium nitrate (Ba(NO(3))(2)), lead dioxide (PbO(2)) and ammonium perchlorate (NH(4)ClO(4)). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) have been used to obtain thermal characteristic of the mixtures and the results compared with those of pure constituents. The results showed that pure lactose powder decomposes at about 358 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere, while in similar condition decomposition temperature of pure KClO(3), KMnO(4), KNO(3), KClO(4), Ba(NO(3))(2), PbO(2) and NH(4)ClO(4) is 472, 290, 700, 592, 745, 436 and 321 degrees C, respectively. Based on ignition temperature of the pyrotechnic mixtures we can divide them into three categories as follows: I) high sensitive mixtures, igniting at lower than 350 degrees C, including the mixture of lactose with KClO(3), KMnO(4) or KNO(3); 2) low sensitive pyrotechnic mixtures with ignition temperature higher than 400 degrees C, where KClO(4) or Ba(NO(3))(2) act as oxidizing agent of the mixture and 3) not igniting mixtures, involving the ones containing PbO(2) or NH(4)ClO(4) oxidants. On the other hand, bomb calorimetry results showed that the reaction enthalpy (Delta H) of the igniting mixtures varies from 1 150 J/g for lactose+KMnO(4) to 6 100 J/g for (lactose + Ba(NO(3))(2)) mixture. Finally, among high sensitive mixtures, lactose +KClO(3) and lactose+KNO(3) have been chosen as efficient pyrotechnic compositions for vaporization of organic materials, such as a smoke dye due to their high reaction enthalpy at relatively low temperature.