Chemistry & Science
Experiments

Star Formulas

We've chosen to use these compositions for a couple of reasons.
First, we like to prime stars with Black Powder because it's cheap and
easy to make from fertilizer grade Potassium Nitrate. Being incompatible
with Potassium Nitrate, this eliminates Ammonium Perchlorate stars which
we find a bit sensitive anyway. Second, we really don't see the need to
use a Potassium or Barium Chlorate based star formula, since we've found
superior color and luminous intensity using much less sensitive
compositions. There are exceptions here & there, but for the most
part, the formulas that remain the ones that we've chosen to use on a
permanent basis
(and after all, how many red star formulas do you
really need?).
The
following mixtures can be highly dangerous,
ranging from toxic
& flammable to explosive.
They are intended for professional
reference only.

Unless
specified, all star compositions are rolled using water as a solvent. They
are primed with 2 layers. The first layer is a mixture of 50% Black Powder
and 50% star mix followed by a final layer of plain Black Powder about 2mm
thick (on a 1/2" diameter star).

Red, Pink & Magenta Stars

single color
stars

PINK

ELECTRIC
RED

ELECTRIC
MAGENTA

Potassium
Perchlorate

70
%

53
%

8
%

Strontium
Nitrate

-

-

38
%

Strontium
Carbonate

15
%

14
%

-

Copper
Carbonate

-

-

10
%

Sulfur

-

-

5
%

Charcoal AF

2
%

-

5
%

Magnalium
(100 to 200
mesh)

-

6
%

12
%

Parlon

-

14
%

18
%

Red Gum

9
%

9
%

12
%

Dextrin

4
%

4
%

4
%

Blue  & Purple Stars

single color
stars

DOUBLE
NEON
BLUE

PGI BLUE

PURPLE

Potassium
Perchlorate

63.8
%

65
%

61.3
%

Strontium
Carbonate

-

-

7.4
%

Copper
Carbonate

12.9
%

-

5
%

Black Copper
Oxide

-

14
%

-

Parlon

13.8
%

5
%

12.4
%

Dechlorane

-

4
%

-

Red Gum

9.5
%

7
%

9.1
%

Dextrin

4.3
%

5
%

4.8
%

Green Stars

single color
stars

LEMON
LIME
GREEN

ELECTRIC
GREEN

Potassium
Perchlorate

47.2
%

-

Barium
Nitrate

28.3
%

56
%

Aluminum, atomized
(12
micron)

-

9
%

Boric Acid

-

1
%

Sulfur

-

9
%

Magnalium
100 to 200
mesh

-

4
%

Parlon

4.7
%

14
%

Red Gum

14.2
%

3
%

Dextrin

5
%

4
%

Yellow & Orange Stars

single
color stars

YELLOW

ELECTRIC
YELLOW

ORANGE

ELECTRIC
ORANGE

Potassium
Perchlorate

70
%

45
%

68
%

53
%

Sodium
Oxalate

14
%

-

3
%

-

Shellac
80Mesh

6
%

-

-

14
%

Calcium
Carbonate

-

-

9
%

6
%

Magnalium
( 100
to 200 mesh)

-

30
%

-

-

Cryolite

-

13
%

-

-

Charcoal
AF

-

2
%

2
%

-

PVC

-

5
%

-

-

Parlon

-

-

-

14
%

Red
Gum

6
%

-

13
%

9
%

Dextrin

4
%

5
%

5
%

4
%

White &
Dark Stars

single color
stars
(dark star burns with a minimal light output)

WHITE

ELECTRIC
WHITE

DARK

Potassium
Nitrate

64
%

10
%

67
%

Barium
Nitrate

-

54
%

-

Potassium
Perchlorate

-

-

6
%

Antimony
Sulfide

14
%

-

3
%

Aluminum Powder
(German)

-

20
%

-

Charcoal
AF

-

-

14
%

Boric
Acid

-

2
%

-

Sulfur

18
%

8
%

-

Red
Gum

-

-

2
%

Dextrin

4
%

6
%

8
%

Crackle
Stars

crackling & sparking
colored stars

RED
CRACKLE

GREEN
CRACKLE

BLUE
CRACKLE

PURPLE
CRACKLE

Potassium
Perchlorate

55
%

41
%

53
%

54
%

Copper
Carbonate

-

-

11
%

4
%

Strontium
Carbonate

12
%

-

-

7
%

Barium
Nitrate

-

25
%

-

-

Magnesium,
atomized
(20 to 50 mesh)

13
%

13
%

13
%

13
%

Parlon

8
%

5
%

11
%

11
%

Red
gum

8
%

12
%

8
%

7
%

Dextrin

4
%

4
%

4
%

4
%

comments

Make cut stars, use no water.  Use only alcohol (isopropyl,
denatured, etc.) to wet mixture

Make cut stars, use no water.  Use only alcohol (isopropyl,
denatured, etc.) to wet mixture

Make cut stars, use no water.  Use only alcohol (isopropyl,
denatured, etc.) to wet mixture

Make cut stars, use no water.  Use only alcohol (isopropyl,
denatured, etc.) to wet mixture

Glitter
Stars

twinkling
tail effect

WHITE
GLITTER

YELLOW
GLITTER

GOLD
GLITTER

Meal
Powder
(homemade
Blackpowder)
(ball milled)

-

70
%

-

Potassium
Nitrate

56
%

-

55
%

Sodium Oxalate

-

10
%

-

Aluminum,
Bright

-

7
%

-

Aluminum, atomized
(12
micron)

8
%

-

5
%

Antimony
Sulfide

5
%

-

-

Strontium
Carbonate

3
%

-

-

Sodium
Bicarbonate

-

-

7
%

Charcoal
AF

11
%

-

11
%

Sulfur

9
%

8
%

17
%

Dextrin

8
%

5
%

5
%

comments

Only roll
these stars and do not get too wet. They are prone to decomposition until
they dry.

Only roll
these stars and do not get too wet. They are prone to decomposition until
they dry.

Only roll
these stars and do not get too wet. They are prone to decomposition until
they dry.

Lampblack, Charcoal
& Firefly Cut
Stars

long, soft
orange spark
tail (with white flashes
if Aluminum
added)

LAMPBLACK

CHARCOAL

FIREFLY

Meal Powder
(homemade
Blackpowder)
(ball milled)

66
%

66
%

66
%

Lampblack
(oil free grade. don't use
"Conductive
Lampblack")

23
%

-

23
%

Charcoal
AF

-

23
%

-

Sulfur

8
%

8
%

8
%

Aluminum
Flitters (firefly)

-

-

2
%

Red
Gum

3
%

3
%

3
%

This is an
unusual way of making cut stars without cutting. You'll need a sheet
fluorescent light grid (the plastic sheet with 1/2" square holes that
cover some light fixtures). Lay down some wax paper and put a  24"
square sheet of grid on top.  Mix the ingredients together in a large
bowl and add enough isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to make a thick, smooth
paste similar to wall spackle. Using a putty knife, spread the mixture
onto and into the holes in the grid. Stand upright, peel off the wax
paper, and scrape off any excess on the bottom side. Hang up to dry so air
can get to both sides of the grid. This mixture will shrink when it dries
and the stars will easily fall out.  You can scale up this procedure
to make large amounts of these stars with little effort. Small percentages
of either Titanium or Magnalium (not Magnesium) may be added for
additional interesting effects. Don't try and substitute this method for
other star formulas.
They don't shrink and will remain locked in the
grid forever.

Strobe Stars

bright,
distinct
flashing stars

WHITE

PINK

GREEN

Strontium
Nitrate

-

49
%

-

Barium
Nitrate

51
%

48
%

Potassium
Nitrate

7
%

7
%

7
%

Magnalium
( 100 to 200
mesh)

18
%

17
%

17
%

Sulfur

19
%

18
%

17
%

Dechlorane

-

4
%

6
%

Dextrin

5
%

5
%

5
%