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8111760 
Journal Article 
Production of Colored Smoke Signals 
Ray, AB 
1926 
0 
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry
ISSN: 0019-7866 
18 
1 
10-17 
English 
As a result of investigations carried out at the American University Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines and Chemical Warfare Service, colored smoke signals of various types were developed which are satisfactory as to operation and cost. The successful colored smokes are produced by volatilizing colored organic materials and the successful black smoke is produced by the thermal decomposition of compounds such as anthracene, which have a high carbon content. The volatilization of the colored organic compounds is accomplished by the smothered combustion of a mixture of an oxidizing agent and a combustible which is incorporated with the cheap dyestuffs. The black smoke is produced when the special combustion mixture is allowed to burn freely. Specially designed containers and methods of ignition are employed to procure the desired volume of smoke and time of evolution. The types of signals developed include both parachute and nonparachute rocket, rifle grenade, and Very pistol smoke signals, special hand grenade signals for the use of aviators, and smoke pots for ground use. The smokes have peacetime as well as wartime uses. Good colored clouds may be produced by exploding containers, such as shell filled with certain finely powdered colored material. Rouge and ultramarine give good results, but a relatively large amount of material must be dispersed to give a satisfactory signal. Entirely satisfactory colored smokes are not produced by causing gases to react or by causing colored inorganic oxides or salts to be formed and dispersed. The yellow smoke produced by the volatilization of arsenic sulfide is a very good signal smoke, but has a tendency to fade and is not as satisfactory as the dye smoke which remains deep yellow. Smokes produced by volatilizing iodine or decomposing iodine compounds are not satisfactory as to volume, color, stability of mixtures, or cost. © 1926, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.