I assume the potassium chlorate was to make ignition easier? I certainly
commend you on your choice of manganese dioxide. Not the most commonly used
metal oxide, but definitely the best for this application. Net thermal
output is 25-35% higher than iron oxides.
Recommendations:
1) Replace magnesium with aluminum. A little harder to ignite, but it
significantly boosts the thermal output.
2) Replace potassium chlorate with sulfur. Aluminum/Sulfur mixtures make
good high-temp sub-igniters and have better thermal characteristics than
potassium chlorate/magnesium mixtures. It is also more stable.
Not that I have ever been involved in pyrotechnics ;-)
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com