Could Pyrotechnic Pepper Spray Be the Ultimate Self-Defense Solution?

[manmade]

TL;DR Summary

A device that use a pyrotechnic solution to expel an irritant agent.

Wouldn't it be more efficient to pyrotechnically expel the content of a can of pepper spray? I don’t mean like a tear gas/smoke bomb that contaminate the air everywhere around it. But like a fountain that you point towards a specific direction, like a spray can, that reaches several meters. In addition to the effect of the flame itself that will create an instant barrier between you and your problem, the effect of capsaicin (or if necessary more heat resistant nonivamide) or tear gas is added to the pyrotechnic mixture. The result should be a more effective, reliable and compact unit compared to aerosol based products. Compact since the proportion of gas generated by the pyrotechnic substance when ignited is very large in relation to the volume of the pyrotechnic substance when it is not ignited. Combined with a pure extract of irritant agent added to the mixture, that will dilute when the pyrotechnic substance is ignited.

Pros:
More direct ”stopping power”
Longer reach
More compact
More reliable/never loses pressure
Not temperature dependent

How come that this doesn’t exist on the market already? What’s the cons of a pyrotechnic solution?

 

[berkeman]

How do you keep from setting your target on fire?

 

[Borek]

What is the ignition point of capsaicin?

 

[manmade]

How do you keep from setting your target on fire?

The pyrotechnic flame will be similar to that of a firework fountain, so it will have a very low chance of putting things on fire. It would require something highly flammable in order to ignite it.

 

[berkeman]

The pyrotechnic flame will be similar to that of a firework fountain,

Well, if I shoot a fireworks fountain at a person within striking distance, they will get a number of lit sparkle things in their eyes and into their airway...

 

[DaveC426913]

Yikes! The idea behind pepper spray is to disable a target harmlessly.

Your method sounds fraught with potential injurious side effects (whether real or faked) that invite lawsuits.

In other words the cure might be worse than the disease, if you end up in court because you blinded someone with pyrotechnic byproducts.

 

[DaveC426913]

The pyrotechnic flame will be similar to that of a firework fountain, so it will have a very low chance of putting things on fire. It would require something highly flammable in order to ignite it.

What about things it is pointed at? Can you guarantee that your target doesn't have anything flammable?

Any aerosol - such as a can of pray paint or even a can of silly string will be flammable (trust me on this). And now youve got an instant, out-of control flame thrower gyrating in a mass of people - with you in the crosshairs.

 

[berkeman]

if you end up in court because you blinded someone with pyrotechnic byproducts

"You may win the fight today, but I will win the lawsuit later."

 

[manmade]

Well, if I shoot a fireworks fountain at a person within striking distance, they will get a number of lit sparkle things in their eyes and into their airway...

Without the irritant I think it will only be effective at creating a barrier while it’s burning, the sparks from a fountain isn’t a reliable fight stopper..

Look at this fountain that’s ignited at 0:26

It has a big flame that reaches 4-5 meters, burn 16 seconds, and the unit is smaller than 20x200mm. If you compare that to an aerosol can, the pyrotechnic solution is obviously way superior.

 

[manmade]

Yikes! The idea behind pepper spray is to disable a target harmlessly.

Your method sounds fraught with potential injurious side effects (whether real or faked) that invite lawsuits.

In other words the cure might be worse than the disease, if you end up in court because you blinded someone with pyrotechnic byproducts.

The idea behind this device is to be less lethal than a gun, and more effective than a normal pepper spray.

 

[Ibix]

Just don't get attacked at a petrol station.

And make sure it has a really good safety catch. You don't want that going off in your pocket.

Can you stop it firing once it's lit? If not, the bad guy simply steps back and waits for it to burn out then renews his attack.

 

[berkeman]

Okay, this newbie's nonsense has gone on long enough in this thread, so it is now closed. I hear a certain movie theme song in the background...