Comparative analysis of the ESD sensitivity of B/KNO3 and B4C/KNO3 pyrotechnic compositions

Abstract. This study evaluates the electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity of boron and potassium nitrate (B/PN) and boron carbide with potassium nitrate (B₄C/PN) compositions. Previous investigations for the B/PN composition report limited ESD data, primarily in the undamped mode, showing insensitivity up to 5 J. However, prior work demonstrated a 50% initiation probability of 12 mJ in the damped mode, indicating higher sensitivity when measured under conditions more representative for pyrotechnic initiation by thermal decomposition. This study aims to compare the ESD sensitivity between B/PN and B₄C/PN compositions using different ratios of fuel and oxidizer to understand how different reactive components influence their sensitivity and safety profile.