Fuse (explosives)

After the Chinese invented gunpowder, they began adapting its explosive properties for use in military technology.

This simple fuse consisted of lightweight paper filled with loose gunpowder, and served as a means of delaying ignition in fireworks.

[10] The commercial and military version of a burning fuse referred to as safety fuse (invented by William Bickford) is a textile tube filled with combustible material and wrapped to prevent external exposure of the burning core.

Modern day safety fuses are often used in mining and military operations, to provide a time-delay before ignition, and they more often than not are used to initiate an explosive detonator, thereby starting an explosive chain reaction to detonate a larger more stable main charge.

Fuses are found in pyrotechnics, model cannons, matchlock firearms, some improvised explosive devices, and many forms of fireworks.