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Leadfree
   
 
 

We would naturally like, also in consideration of the previously used, lead-content effect detonators in the film industry, to draw particular attention to our development works and the products with heavy-metal-free (patent pending) detonating compositions. This is, especially with regard to the EC-wide lead ban coming into force in 2006, as well as to the high toxicity of the fine dusts containing heavy metal, especially with the application in closed spaces such as film studios or theatre halls, not of inconsiderable industrial-medicinal significance and consequently also that of legal liability.

One main problem with the film-effect detonators (bullet hit squibs) on the market up to now is the lead emission, particularly when used inside closed spaces, such as e.g. in film studios or theatre halls, but also with the representation of body shots directly on persons.

Due to the successive series ignition of sometimes more than a thousand such film-effect detonators, the present permissible concentration for lead (MAK-value) of 0.1 mg/m³ is easily exceeded manifold even in large interior spaces.

Also, the “shot” objects are contaminated with lead (“lead-level”), which with regard to its toxicity, is in the meantime very problematic in view of environment laws. Consequently, in 1999 the “North American Environmental Protection Agency of USA” (EPA) published a list with 275 environmental poisons. Among the 20 most poisonous substances, amongst other, lead is also listed:

Top 11 Substances:

1. Arsenic
2. Lead
3. Mercury
4. Vinyl chloride
5. Benzene
6. Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB’s)
7. Cadmium
8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
9. Benzofluoranthene
10. Chloroform
11. DDT, P’ , P

Also, within the EC, in the framework of ongoing environmental protection programs, the limits for lead (as very fine dust) are to be reduced by the year 2010 to limits of max. 10 μ g/m³. In some countries within the EC, Scandinavia in particular, tighter conditions concerning the use of lead have already existed for several years. As a result, e.g. in Denmark, since the beginning of December 2002 balancing weights (for motor vehicle tyres) and even angler weights may no longer contain lead. There, even the use of lead shot for hunting water birds has been forbidden for years, just as it is in the Netherlands.
Through this further tightening in the environmental legislation, there naturally also results a considerable extra economical expense for the manufacturer with regard to the handling of leaded compounds (explosives), as well as for the disposal or reprocessing of leaded, explosive-containing residues and wastes (waste water).

Based on extensive series of measurements, the following graph clearly shows the comparison between a conventional percussion cap, i.e. containing lead and barium (SINOXID®), and one which is free of heavy metal (SINTOX®):

 
 
Cartridge 9 mm x 19 (9mm Para):
Air volume to be discharged per shot for SINOXID and SINTOX design, relative to the MAK value of the respective substance (composition volume: 8 mg lead tricinate)
 
This graph shows in a clear manner, the contrast between a conventional SINOXID® primer composition, i.e. containing heavy metal, and the lead- and barium-free SINTOX®-variant.
This comparison is also insofar remarkable, if one compares the quantitative proportion of leaded tricinate in the primer composition with the classics bullet hit squibs. With a volume of 8 mg lead tricinate in the SINOXID® primer composition, in closed rooms an air volume of 48.3 m³ is to be discharged, conventional, leaded film-effect igniters can contain up to 385 mg (!) lead tricinate.