A silver or gold chrysanthemum with large, brightly colored stars at the tips. The name comes from the Latin word for "jewel". A diadem shells displays both a tail and color at the same time. This requires the use of special stars such as married or tipped comets. In practice most (pseudo-) diadem effects are achived using common colored stars with excess metal fuel, e.g.
Delay chain-fusing fireworks items have their fuses linked by a length of slow burning fuse, such that they are ignited in series. Once the initial fuse is lit, the operator no longer has control of the subsequent ignition of firework items in the chain.
An explosive that reacts by deflagration rather than detonation when used in its normal manner. Deflagaration is a rapid chemical reaction in which the output of heat is sufficient to enable the reaction to proceed and be accelerated without input of heat from another source. The effect of a deflagration under confinement is an explosion.
Essentially the same as a peony shell, with an standard bursting charge, but with fewer and larger stars. These stars travel a longer-than-usual distance from the shell break and usually droop considerably before burning out. For instance, if a 3" peony shell is made with a star size designed for a 6" shell, it is then considered a dahlia. Some dahlia shells are cylindrical rather than spherical to allow for more large stars.
DOT - US Department of Transportation who makes rules about shipping fireworks, chemicals, etc.
Combustible cubes made by regularly cutting a damp mass are called Cut stars. Cutting probably is the easiest method to make stars and there is more than one way to do this. The following are quite common methods:
A cross match is a piece of bare match or black match which is threaded through a hole in the time fuse, so fire is transferred from the black match to the black powder core of the time fuse. It provides for more reliable fire transfer and is most commonly used in aerial shells.
Crackling microstars (also called Dragon's eggs) are small pyrotechnic stars which first burn for a period giving a visual effect and then explode with a sharp crack. This Chinese discovery is extensively used in both consumer and professional fireworks. When several stars are lit at the same time, a crackling effect is achieved as the individual granules each explode with a slightly different delay.
Note that the eggs are notoriously sensitive to friction and, to a lesser amount, to shock.
Convolute tubes are those rolled from a square sheet of paper. Thus the edge of the paper is parallel to the axis of the tube. Convolute tubes are superior to spiral-wound ones in quality, but the prize generally is also higher. They are recommended for high-pressure applications (rockets, fountains) as well as for candles etc.
