Thermite Experiment (120g)

Making Thermite, then attempting to burn through 3/4 inch Aluminum plating. Unsuccessful, but still cool. This is 120g of Thermite, lit with a strip of magnesium.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Thermite
• fire
• burn
• melt
• iron
• aluminum
• powder
• mesh
• 120
• Expermiment
• magnesium
• flame
• heat

[Garrslicer]

i have always found that black iron oxide thermite burns MUCH hotter than red iron oxide thermite, you seem like a professional, do you think this is true?

[Ponxter]

In all honesty, I have never tried black iron oxide (although now you mention it I will have to).

Simply looking at the reaction equation, it looks like black oxide would burn hotter because it has more oxygens in it, which of course is the fuel for the reaction. Though it would be hard to tell without doing a series of experiments burning through different metals with different melting points, I would hazard a guess that yes, black oxide would burn hotter.

[Ponxter]

Sorry about the none readable titles. Basicly they say it is 1pt Aluminum, 3pts Iron Oxide. Also after our first attempt at lighting the Thermite we used a propane torch. Thanks for Watching

[MetalGear753]

What are the proper safety precautions and regulations on a termite experiment? I want to see someone do this one day in person.

[DeadlySausage]

Fe(III) is what you want

[C20rules]

Nice!

Even if aluminium has relatively low melting point, it is a good conductor of heat (the heat is spread out to the whole piece) - only 120 g of thermite has not enough energy to melt a solid block that big.