A thermite mixture using Iron (III) Oxide

A thermite mixture using Iron (II,III) Oxide

Thermite is a kind of pyrotechnic composition of aluminium powder and a metal oxide which produces an aluminothermic reaction known as a thermite reaction. The aluminium is oxidized by the oxide of another metal, most commonly iron oxide (rust). The products are aluminium oxide, free elemental iron, and a large amount of heat. The reactants are commonly powdered and mixed with a binder to keep the material solid and prevent separation. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x682, 498 KB) Summary A photo of ~110g of Thermite Taken by Schuyler S.(Unununium272) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Thermite Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x682, 498 KB) Summary A photo of ~110g of Thermite Taken by Schuyler S.(Unununium272) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Thermite Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... A pyrotechnic composition is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these, as a result of non detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions. ... Aluminum redirects here. ... Aluminothermic reactions are exothermic chemical reactions using aluminium as the reducing agent at high temperature. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... This article is about metallic materials. ... Iron oxide pigment There are a number of iron oxides: Iron oxides Iron(II) oxide or ferrous oxide (FeO) The black-coloured powder in particular can cause explosions as it readily ignites. ... For other uses, see Rust (disambiguation). ... Alumina redirects here. ...

The reaction is used for thermite welding, often used to join railroad rails. Some other metal oxides can be used, such as chromium oxide, to generate elementary metal. Copper thermite, using copper oxide, is used for creating electric joints in a process called cadwelding. Some thermite-like mixtures are used as pyrotechnic initiators such as fireworks. Thermite welding is the process of igniting a mix of high energy materials that produce a metallic slag that is poured between the working pieces of metal to form a join. ... Cadwelding is joining together two conductors of like or dissimilar materials by exothermic reaction. ... A pyrotechnic initiator (also initiator or igniter) is a device containing a pyrotechnic composition used primarily to ignite other, more difficult to ignite materials, e. ...

Thermite Experiments were used as part of a project on the third series of Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky One, in which the braniacs tested the ignition of thermite to see what would be resistant against it. ^{[citation needed]} Brainiac: Science Abuse is a television programme showing in the UK on Sky One (and repeated on Sky Mix). ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Brainiac may mean: Brainiac, a common modern term used to describe someone exceedingly smart in a certain field. ...

History

A thermite reaction using Iron(III) Oxide

Thermite was discovered in 1893 and patented in 1895 by German chemist Dr. Hans Goldschmidt. Consequently, the reaction is sometimes called the "Goldschmidt reaction" or "Goldschmidt process". Dr. Goldschmidt was originally interested in producing very pure metals by avoiding the use of carbon in smelting, but he soon realised the value in welding. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 773 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (3069 × 2380 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 773 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (3069 × 2380 pixel, file size: 3. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... A chemist pours from a round-bottom flask. ... Doctor Hans Goldschmidt (1861 - 1923) was a German chemist. ... For other uses, see Carbon (disambiguation). ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ...

The first commercial application was the welding of tram tracks in Essen, in 1899. Degussa, a corporate descendant of Goldschmidt's firm, is still today one of the world's largest producers of welding thermite. This article refers to public transport vehicles running on rails. ... Essen is a city in the center of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Degussa Logo Degussa AG is a multinational chemistry corporation based in Düsseldorf, Germany. ...

Types

A thermite reaction taking place on a cast iron skillet.

Black or blue iron oxide (Fe₃O₄), produced by oxidizing iron in an oxygen-rich environment under high heat, is the most commonly used thermite oxidizing agent because it is inexpensive and easily produced. Red iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃, commonly known as rust) can also be used. Other oxides are occasionally used, such as MnO₂ in manganese thermite, Cr₂O₃ in chromium thermite, or copper(II) oxide in copper thermite, but only for highly specialised purposes. All examples use aluminium as the reactive metal. Fluoropolymers can be used in special formulations; Teflon with magnesium or aluminium being a relatively common. Magnesium/teflon/viton is a pyrolant of this type. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x682, 287 KB) Summary A thermite reaction, using about 110g of the mixture, taking place. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x682, 287 KB) Summary A thermite reaction, using about 110g of the mixture, taking place. ... Iron(II,III) oxide is an oxide of iron, containing iron (II) as well as iron (III). ... Iron(III) oxide — also known as ferric oxide, Hematite, red iron oxide, synthetic maghemite, colcothar, or simply rust — is one of the several oxide compounds of iron, and has paramagnetic properties. ... For other uses, see Rust (disambiguation). ... Manganese(IV) oxide is the chemical compound MnO2, more usually called manganese dioxide. ... Chromium(III) oxide, also known as chromium sesquioxide or chromia, is one of four oxides of chromium, chemical formula Cr2O3. ... Copper(II) oxide or cupric oxide (CuO) is the higher oxide of copper. ... A fluoropolymer is a polymer that contains atoms of fluorine. ... In chemistry, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer which finds numerous applications. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... Aluminum redirects here. ... MTV is an acronym for pyrolants based on magnesium/Teflon®/Viton®. Teflon and Viton are trademarks of DuPont for polytetrafluoroethylene, (C2F4)n, and vinylidenfluoride-hexafluoroisopropene-copolymer, (CH2CF2)n(CF(CF3)CF2)n. ... Pyrolant is a made-up word containing the greek word pyros (= fire) to describe energetic materials that generate hot flames upon combustion. ...

In principle, any reactive metal could be used instead of aluminium. This is rarely done, however, because the properties of aluminium are ideal for this reaction. It is by far the cheapest of the highly reactive metals; it also forms a passivation layer making it safer to handle than many other reactive metals. The melting and boiling points of aluminium also make it ideal for thermite reactions. Its relatively low melting point (660 °C, 1221 °F) means that it is easy to melt the metal, so that the reaction can occur mainly in the liquid phase^[1] and thus proceeds fairly quickly. At the same time, its high boiling point (2519 °C, 4566 °F) enables the reaction to reach very high temperatures, since several processes tend to limit the maximum temperature to just below the boiling point.^[2] Such a high boiling point is common among transition metals (e.g. iron and copper boil at 2887 °C and 2582 °C respectively), but is especially unusual among the highly reactive metals (cf. magnesium and sodium which boil at 1090 °C and 883 °C respectively). Passivation is the process of making a material passive in relation to another material prior to using the materials together. ... The melting point of a crystalline solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... Italic text This article is about the boiling point of liquids. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... Copper has played a significant part in the history of mankind, which has used the easily accessible uncompounded metal for nearly 10,000 years. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... For sodium in the diet, see Edible salt. ...

Although the reactants are stable at room temperature, they burn with an extremely intense exothermic reaction when they are heated to ignition temperature. The products emerge as liquids due to the high temperatures reached (up to 2500 °C (4500 °F) with iron(III) oxide)—although the actual temperature reached depends on how quickly heat can escape to the surrounding environment. Thermite contains its own supply of oxygen and does not require any external source of air. Consequently, it cannot be smothered and may ignite in any environment, given sufficient initial heat. It will burn well while wet and cannot be extinguished with water. Small amounts of water will boil before reaching the reaction. If thermite is ignited underwater, the molten iron produced will extract oxygen from water and generate hydrogen gas in a single-replacement reaction. This gas may, in turn, burn by combining with oxygen in the air. In chemistry, an exothermic reaction is one that releases heat . ... Iron(III) oxide — also known as ferric oxide, Hematite, red iron oxide, synthetic maghemite, colcothar, or simply rust — is one of the several oxide compounds of iron, and has paramagnetic properties. ...

Ignition

Conventional thermite reactions require very high temperatures for initiation. These cannot be reached with conventional black powder fuses, nitrocellulose rods, detonators, a suitable pyrotechnic initiator, or other common igniting substances. Even when the thermite is hot enough to glow bright red, it will not ignite as it must be at or near white-hot to initiate the reaction. It is possible to start the reaction using a propane torch if done correctly. The torch can preheat the entire pile of thermite which will make it explode instead of burning slowly when it finally reaches ignition temperature. Black powder was the original gunpowder and practically the only known propellant and explosive until the middle of the 19th century. ... In an explosive, pyrotechnic device or military munition, a fuse (or fuze) is the part of the device that initiates function. ... Skeletal formula of nitrocellulose Ball-and-stick model of a section of nitrocellulose Nitrocellulose (also: cellulose nitrate, flash paper) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through, for example, exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. ... A detonator is a device used to trigger bombs, shaped charges and other forms of explosive material and explosive devices. ... A pyrotechnic initiator (also initiator or igniter) is a device containing a pyrotechnic composition used primarily to ignite other, more difficult to ignite materials, e. ... A propane torch is a tool for burning the flammable gas propane. ...

Often, strips of magnesium metal are used as fuses. Because metals burn without releasing cooling gases, they can potentially burn at extremely high temperatures. Reactive metals such as magnesium can easily reach temperatures sufficiently high for thermite ignition. However, this method is notoriously unreliable: Magnesium itself is difficult to ignite, and in windy or wet conditions the strip may be extinguished. Also, magnesium strips do not contain their own source of oxygen so combustion cannot occur unless the magnesium strips are exposed to air. A significant danger of magnesium ignition is the fact that the metal is an excellent conductor of heat; heating one end of the ribbon may cause the other end to transfer enough heat to the thermite to cause premature ignition. Despite these issues, magnesium ignition remains popular amongst amateur thermite users, mainly because it can be easily obtained. General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ...

The reaction between potassium permanganate and glycerine is used as an alternative to the magnesium method. When these two substances mix, a spontaneous reaction will begin, slowly increasing the temperature of the mixture until flames are produced. The heat released by the oxidation of glycerine is sufficient to initiate a thermite reaction. However, this method can also be unreliable and the delay between mixing and ignition can vary greatly due to factors such as particle size and ambient temperature. Potassium permanganate is the chemical compound KMnO4. ... Glycerin, also known as glycerine and glycerol, and less commonly as 1,2,3-propanetriol, 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane, glyceritol, and glycyl alcohol is a colorless, odorless, hygroscopic, and sweet tasting viscous liquid. ...

Apart from magnesium ignition, some amateurs also choose to use sparklers to ignite the thermite mixture. These reach the necessary temperatures and provide enough time before the burning point reaches the sample. However, this can be a dangerous method, as the iron sparks, like the magnesium strips, burn at thousands of degrees and can ignite the thermite even though the sparkler itself is not in contact with it. This is especially dangerous with finely powdered thermite. For the Sparkers software label, see Creative Sparks. ...

Similarly, finely-powdered thermite can be ignited by a regular flint spark lighter, as the sparks are burning metal (in this case, the highly-reactive rare-earth metals lanthanum and cerium). Therefore it is unsafe to strike a lighter close to thermite. A flint spark lighter in action. ... Rare earth ore Rare earth elements and rare earth metals are trivial names sometimes applied to a collection of 17 chemical elements in the Periodic Table, namely scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lanthanum, La, 57 Chemical series lanthanides Group, Period, Block 3, 6, f Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 138. ... General Name, Symbol, Number cerium, Ce, 58 Chemical series lanthanides Group, Period, Block n/a, 6, f Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 140. ...

A stoichiometric mixture of finely powdered iron(III) oxide and aluminium may be ignited using ordinary red-tipped book matches by partially embedding one match head in the mixture, and igniting that match head with another match, preferably held with tongs in gloves to prevent flash burns. In chemistry, stoichiometry is the study of the combination of elements in chemical reactions. ... Flash burn can mean: Arc eye, also called corneal flash burn. ...

Safety

Thermite usage is hazardous due to the extremely high temperatures produced and the fact that it is almost impossible to smother once initiated. Appropriate precautions must be taken before igniting thermite. The thermite reaction releases dangerous ultra-violet (UV) light requiring that the reaction not be viewed directly, or that special eye protection (for example, a welder's mask) be worn. Thermite should not be used near flammable materials because small streams of molten iron released in the reaction can travel considerable distances and may melt through metal containers, igniting their contents. Additionally, flammable metals with relatively low boiling points such as zinc, whose boiling point of 907 °C (1665 °F) is about 1370 °C (2500 °F) below the temperature at which thermite burns, should be kept away from thermite, because contact with such metals could potentially boil superheated metal violently into the air, where it could then burst into flame as it is exposed to oxygen.

Preheating of thermite before ignition must be strictly avoided. Preheating can easily be done accidentally, for example by pouring a new pile of thermite over a hot, recently-ignited pile of thermite slag. When ignited, preheated thermite can burn almost instantaneously, releasing a much greater amount of light and heat energy than normal and causing burns and eye damage at what would normally be a reasonably safe distance. Thermite must be used with care in welding pipes or other items with air cavities, as thermal expansion of trapped gases may cause bursting. Generally, the ignition of thermite should be timed so any individuals in the immediate area have enough time to move away to a safe distance before it starts to burn. As with any pyrotechnic composition, thermite that is not being used in a particular task should be kept far away from the site of ignition. When handled in a responsible manner by properly trained individuals, thermite can be reasonably safe. General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... Slag is also an early play by David Hare. ... A pyrotechnic composition is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these, as a result of non detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions. ...

The thermite reaction can take place accidentally in industrial locations where abrasive grinding and cutting wheels are used with ferrous metals. Using aluminium in this situation produces an admixture of oxides which is capable of a violent explosive reaction.^[3] Grinding wheel A grinding wheel is an expendable wheel that carries an abrasive compound on its periphery. ... cheese pizzas are those by-productss which include milk and all calcium derivatives. ...

Mixing water with thermite or pouring water onto burning thermite is dangerous because it can cause a phreatomagmatic explosion, spraying hot fragments in all directions. Phreatic eruption at the summit of Mount St. ...

Military uses

Thermite grenades are used as incendiary devices to quickly destroy enemy equipment. Additionally, thermite grenades are used by friendly forces to destroy their own items and equipment when there is imminent danger of them being captured. Because of the difficulty in igniting standard iron-thermite, plus the fact that it burns with practically no flame and has a small radius of action, standard thermite is rarely used on its own as an incendiary composition. It is more usually employed with other ingredients added to enhance its incendiary effects. Thermate-TH3 is a mixture of thermite and pyrotechnic additives which have been found to be superior to standard thermite for incendiary purposes. Its composition by weight is generally 68.7% thermite, 29.0% barium nitrate, 2.0% sulfur and 0.3% binder. Addition of barium nitrate to thermite increases its thermal effect, creates flame in burning and significantly reduces the ignition temperature. Although the primary purpose of Thermate-TH3 is as an incendiary, it will also weld metal surfaces together. Grenade redirects here. ... hey hey you no i rock at soccer cuz no i made the school team!! yay me aka katelyn ♥ Incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus. ... Thermate is an incendiary compound used for military applications and controlled demolition. ... Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... A binder is a material used to bind together two or more other materials in mixtures. ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ...

A classic military use for thermite is disabling artillery pieces and it has been used for this purpose since the Second World War. Thermite can permanently disable artillery pieces without the use of explosive charges and therefore can be used with a reasonable amount of stealth. There are several ways to do this. By far the most destructive method is to weld the weapon shut by inserting one or more armed thermite grenades into the breech and then quickly closing it. This makes the weapon impossible to load. An alternative method is to insert an armed thermite grenade down the muzzle of the artillery piece, fouling the barrel. This makes the piece very dangerous to fire. Yet another method is to use thermite to weld the traversing and elevation mechanism of the weapon, making it impossible to aim properly. For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Breech from Russian 122 mm M1910 howitzer, modified and combined with 105mm H37 howitzer barrel An interrupted screw style breech plug in the M109 howitzer An animation showing the loading cycle for a large naval breech-loader. ...

Thermite was also used in both German and Allied incendiary bombs during WWII. Incendiary bombs usually consisted of dozens of thin thermite filled cannisters bomblets ignited by a magnesium fuse. Incendiary bombs destroyed entire cities due to the raging fires that resulted from their use. Cities that were primarily consisted of wooden buildings were especially susceptible. These incendiary bombs were utilized primarily during night time air raids. Bomb sights were unable to be utilized at night creating the need to utilize munitions that could destroy targets without the need for precision placement. Incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, or white phosphorus. ... German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... Honest John missile warhead cutaway, showing M139 Sarin bomblets (photo circa 1960) Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground launched shells that eject multiple small submunitions (bomblets). ...

Civilian uses

Thermite reaction proceeding for a railway welding. Shortly after this, the liquid iron flows into the mould around the rail gap.

The violent effects of thermite demonstrated in the Utah desert

Thermite reactions have many uses. Thermite was originally used for repair welding in-place thick steel sections such as locomotive axle-frames where the repair can take place without removing the part from its installed location. It can also be used for quickly cutting or welding steel such as rail tracks, without requiring complex or heavy equipment. Image File history File links Velp-thermitewelding-1. ... Image File history File links Velp-thermitewelding-1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2016x1600, 526 KB) Summary A large quantity of thermite (prepared by mixing 200 g Fe2O3 powder with 60 g of aluminum powder) was placed on a 6 foot-tall wooden slot machine and ignited with a fuse made of magnesium ribbon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2016x1600, 526 KB) Summary A large quantity of thermite (prepared by mixing 200 g Fe2O3 powder with 60 g of aluminum powder) was placed on a 6 foot-tall wooden slot machine and ignited with a fuse made of magnesium ribbon. ... Great Western Railway No. ... An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ... Rail tracks. ...

A thermite reaction, when used to purify the ores of some metals, is called the Thermite process, or aluminothermic reaction. An adaptation of the reaction, used to obtain pure uranium, was developed as part of the Manhattan Project at Ames Laboratory under the direction of Frank Spedding. It is sometimes called the Ames process. Iron ore (Banded iron formation) Manganese ore Lead ore Gold ore An ore is a volume of rock containing components or minerals in a mode of occurrence which renders it valuable for mining. ... Aluminothermic reactions are exothermic chemical reactions using aluminium as the reducing agent at high temperature. ... General Name, symbol, number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, period, block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Standard atomic weight 238. ... This article is about the World War II nuclear project. ... Ames Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory located in Ames, Iowa. ... Frank H. Spedding (1902-1984) was a chemist who led a group of chemists at Ames Laboratory which developed an efficient process for obtaining high purity uranium from uranium halides. ... A container of uranium tetrafluoride and calcium being lowered into a blast furnace. ...

When thermite is made using iron (II) oxide, for maximum efficiency it should contain, by mass, 25.3% aluminium and 74.7% iron oxide. (This mixture is sold under the brand name Thermit as a heat source for welding.) The complete formula for the reaction using iron (III) oxide is as follows: For other uses, see Mass (disambiguation). ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ...

ΔH = -851.5 kJ/mol ^{[citation needed]} Enthalpy (symbolized H, also called heat content) is the sum of the internal energy of matter and the product of its volume multiplied by the pressure. ... The joule (IPA: or ) (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy. ... The mole (symbol: mol) is the SI base unit that measures an amount of substance. ...

When thermite is made using iron (II,III) oxide, for maximum efficiency it should contain, by mass, 23.7% aluminium and 76.3% iron oxide. The formula for the reaction using iron (II,III) oxide: Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic mineral with chemical formula Fe3O4, one of several iron oxides and a member of the spinel group. ...

ΔH = -3347.6 kJ/mol ^{[citation needed]} Enthalpy (symbolized H, also called heat content) is the sum of the internal energy of matter and the product of its volume multiplied by the pressure. ... The joule (IPA: or ) (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy. ... The mole (symbol: mol) is the SI base unit that measures an amount of substance. ...

Interestingly, a modified version of this process (run under an inert atmosphere) can be used to produce a number of alloys—the mixture is usually ignited electrically. This approach has been used to prepare Ni-Al Alloys amongst others. An inert gas is any gas that is not reactive under normal circumstances. ...

Copper thermite, under trade name CADWeld, is used for welding together thick copper wires for the purpose of electrical connections. Cadwelding is joining together two conductors of like or dissimilar materials by exothermic reaction. ...

See also

• LZ 129 Hindenburg#The incendiary paint theory

The Hindenburg redirects here. ...

Notes

Evaporation is the process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid state (or solid state if the substance sublimes) gain sufficient energy to enter the gaseous state. ...

References

A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ...

External links

• Video - steel casting with thermite
• History of thermite
• Thermite Video, Instructions, Formula