A sample of strontium nitrite has been synthesised and thermally characterised to investigate its role in the ageing of magnesium-strontium nitrate pyrotechnic compositions in the presence of water vapour. Studies by isothermal microcalorimetry show that the addition of strontium nitrite to a 50% magnesium-50% strontium nitrate composition eliminated the induction reaction normally observed in closed ampoule studies in air at 50 degrees C and relative humidities in the range 65-69%. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.