How Do "Devil Bangers" Work?

[Chappers]

When I say devil bangers, that's what they're called in the UK, abroad I have no idea.

They're those little round packages of rocks, all warpped up in what appears to be cigarette paper that you throw to the ground and it makes a "bang" or a "crack" a bit tame I know what with all the big explosions happening at this time of year but I'd ;ove to know how they work.

[c00ky83]

Further to that, can you remember throwing them at a window? Magic! Sorry I can't actually answer...would like to know as well!

[Chappers]

Windows, walls you name it!

In fact, I bought some last night (sold alongside the fireworks) and you can throw them against your mates (body, head etc) and they still go bang, a hard surface is not essential!

[Buenchico]

This question was asked here:
http://www.scienceforums.net/forums/showthread.php?p=516 56
There wasn't a precise answer given but from the hints dropped by the guy who says he knows how it's done, it looks like 'Devil Bangers' are, in essence, very small versions of the sugar+fertiliser bombs which used to be favoured by the IRA. Now, as it happens, I do know how these are made (as the result of some highly dangerous experiments carried outt during my 6th form days) but I'm certainly not going to post the information on a public forum because I'd fall foul of the government's anti-terrorist legislation!

Chris

[Chappers]

Wow...interesting reading there mate, thanks!

I'm not interested in how to make it or anything silly like that, I just meant how it works...I mean...those IRA fertiliser bombs require fuses etc surely? But these devil bangers are triggered by what I can only assume to be a spark caused by whatever crystals are in it.

Anyway, "basically a bomb, don't fu*k around with them" that's good enough for me.

[WaldoMcFroog]

We called them 'snappits' not 'Devil bangers'!

[BillyBB]

I am sure that it is not a sugar/ oxidiser reaction.

Dim memory says an unstable compound of iodine.

[bymis]

Its a suger/oxidisation reaction, and its a contact explosive so contact is enought energy required to make it and in college we made some and managed to spill it on the floor, i was fun walking around for 30mins lol!

[TheMonsterMa]

hey, I ve actually did some experimentation to find out how, sch as taking out and crushing every piece one by one by a hammer, or else examined the pieces closely, they all look the same, or pretty close to eachother, the weird thing is even they look the same and not one of them has made any sign of a fire reaction or explotion when I hammered, but when ı took one randomly out one the others did not explode at all. So I thought a particular one of them must start the reaction somehow. U guys have any idea how?