Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) have been used to examine the thermal behavior of powdered zirconium with some pyrotechnic oxidants, in relation to the behavior of the individual constituents. The results showed that decomposition temperature for pure compounds (potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, barium nitrate and barium peroxide) are 540, 472, 592, 745 and 600 degrees C, respectively. Pure zirconium powder ignited in air at about 600 degrees C. On the other hand, TG/DTA of Zr/KClO3 indicates that this mixture decomposes at 375 degrees C. Also, when KClO3 is replaced by KClO4 as oxidizer of the fuel, zirconium, the sensitivity of the mixture to thermal ignition will decrease. Zr/KNO3 pyrotechnic mixture has ignition temperature around 427 degrees C. Zr/Ba(NO3)(2) pyrotechnic system has a fusion temperature around 625 degrees C and decomposes at 663 degrees C. However, when Ba(NO3)(2) is replaced by BaO2 as oxidizer in pyrotechnic mixture containing zirconium, the ignition temperature decreases to 390 degrees C.