Red Stars

All these compositions were pulled off 'Practical Pyrotechnics', an internet site containing lots of valuble information.

 

Red star #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics archive. Composition from Shimizu[1], page 215
Comments: The perchlorate can be substituted by chlorate without changing the color.
Preparation:

Potassium perchlorate.............................66
Red gum...........................................13
Lampblack.........................................2
Strontium carbonate...............................12
Polyvinyl chloride................................2
Soluble Glutinous Rice Starch.....................5

Red star #2
Source:
Comments:
Preparation: Dissolve shellac in boiling ethanol, add the other ingredients and proceed as usual. The stars take unexpectedly long to dry. They can be dried in the sun or in a vacuum. Smaller stars dry faster.

Potassium chlorate................................20
Strontium nitrate.................................60
Shellac...........................................20

Red star #3
Source:
Comments:
Preparation: Dissolve shellac in boiling ethanol, and add the other ingredients.

Potassium chlorate................................65
Strontium carbonate...............................15
Shellac...........................................20

Red star #4
Source:
Comments:
Preparation: Dissolve shellac in boiling ethanol, and add the other ingredients.

Potassium perchlorate.............................44
Strontium nitrate.................................31
Red gum...........................................15
Shellac (binder)..................................5
PVC or saran .....................................8 or 7

Red star #5
Source:
Comments:
Preparation: Add water. For priming "priming composition #7" from the chapter with miscellaneous compositions can be used.

Ammonium perchlorate..............................30
Potassium perchlorate.............................35
Strontium carbonate...............................18
Hexamine..........................................2
Charcoal, fine....................................2
Red gum...........................................16
Dextrin...........................................4

Red star #6
Source: "The pyroguide" (a document found on internet)
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation: Bind with shellac dissolved in ethanol.

Potassium chlorate................................9
Sulfur............................................2
Lampblack.........................................1
Strontium nitrate.................................9

Red star #7
Source: post on rec.pyrotechnics by Tommy Hakomaki <tommy.hakomaki@mailbox.swipnet.se. Composition from an old swedish book.
Comments:
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................36
Sulfur............................................30
Meal powder.......................................36
Strontium nitrate.................................40
Antimony sulfide..................................5
Charcoal..........................................12

Red star #8
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Post by Andrew Krywonizka. Composition from Lancaster[2].
Comments: Produce as a cut star
Preparation:

Potassium perchlorate.............................70
Strontium carbonate...............................15
Red gum...........................................9
Charcoal 150 Mesh.................................2
Dextrin...........................................4

Red star #9
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Post by Andrew Krywonizka. Composition from Lancaster[2].
Comments: Produce as a pressed star
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................55
Magnesium.........................................28
PVC...............................................17

Red star #10
Source: PML, post by David Abate <daveab@ix.netcom.com.
Comments: Crackling stars can be made with this composition. The poster used large pistol primers (idea from Best of AFN II), coated with 70%KClO4/30% Dark aluminum for cores, and rolled these into stars with the star mixture. The stars were hard to ignite and needed priming.
Preparation:

Potassium perchlorate.............................68
Strontium carbonate...............................13
Red gum...........................................14
Dextrin...........................................5

Red star #11
Source: rec.pyrotechnics archive. Composition from Shimizu[1], page 217. It’s listed under the name "Red star brilliant".
Comments:
Preparation: The magnesium must be coated with linseed oil. Use an acetone or alcohol solvable binder.

Potassium perchlorate.............................30
Strontium nitrate (anhydride).....................20
Magnesium, 60 mesh................................30
PVC...............................................18
Lampblack or Paulownia coal.......................2

Red star #12
Source: rec.pyrotechnics archive. Composition from Shimizu[1], page 219. It’s listed under the name "Ammon red star brilliant".
Comments:
Preparation:

Ammonium perchlorate..............................41
Magnesium, 60 mesh................................33.3
Red gum...........................................9.5
Strontium carbonate...............................9.5
Potassium bichromate..............................1.9
Soluble glutinous rice starch.....................4.8