What is Thermite?
Thermit is a chemical compound that consists of reactive metal and metal oxide, usually both in a powder state mixed together. The type of metal used may vary, although the most common combination consists of aluminum as reactive oxide metal and iron, also known as rust. These two metals are ground into powder or shavings and then mixed together, at this point they are still relatively safe to handle if the mixture is not exposed to high temperatures. Termite creates an intense exothermic reaction, not an inherently explosive reaction as soon as the correct ignition source is applied. Aluminum is used because it is a reactive metal with a very high boiling point and a low melting point. The high boiling point of aluminum is important because the maximum temperature achieved during the reaction of the thermit - the composition burning process - is usually limited by the boiling point of the reactive metal used, while the low melting point allows the reaction to appear as soon as the aluminum is in the liquid phase. Because aluminum is also quite cheap, isIdeal for commercial and industrial purposes. Iron oxide is also affordable oxide metal oxide, although other metals such as chrome and copper can be used.
The basic termite reaction consists of two metals, such as aluminum and iron oxide, combined and then introduced a source of very high heat. Standard ignition cap and fuses will not usually work and the magnesium strips are often used to achieve the heat necessary to start the reaction. Once the aluminum reaches a high temperature, then iron and aluminum oxide are connected to form free elementary iron, aluminum oxide and huge heat.
Thermit ignition is an exothermic reaction, which means that more energy is caused in response than it is necessary to create it, and this energy is released as intense heat up to 4,500 ° F (about 2,500 ° C). This termit reaction is used in a number of commercial and production applications. Because the resulting compositionCreates a clean metal, this process can be used to extract metals for use in a construction.
Intense heat created in this reaction can also be used to melt metals and are used for welding and cutting through metal. However, attention must be paid to welding because there is a tendency to create air pockets and potential weak places due to the use of molten metal. Thermite can even be used in a limited way underwater, as the reaction actually creates its own oxygen supply to continue the reaction cover.