Ferrocerium Firesteel Rod Torture - Testing for corrosion

Here are some things we learned trying to find an answer to this mystery:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmVWIKPhSq4

Disposable butane lighters do not use actual "Flint" to create the spark to light the flame. Ferrocerium was patented in 1903 by chemist named Carl. You will find his work in disposable lighters. Not actual "flint" but a little barrel of man made Ferrocerium. If you want to test out your own theory without sacrificing a firesteel then test your theory on a leftover "flint" from an empty disposable lighter. Please post a video response and tell us what you discover.

Strike anywhere matches are not made of pure sulfur. They contain mostly potassium chlorate and a substance that is derived from reacting white phosphorus with sulfur. It has been that way since they started producing the stuff in commercial quantities back in 1898.

If Sulfur is to blame in this mystery then Black Powder or Gun Powder could be the source. Black Powder is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. When burned it produces potassium carbonate and potassium sulfate. "The white sticky soot contains potassium oxide or sodium oxide that turns into potassium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide when exposed to the moisture in the air. It will corrode wrought iron or steel gun barrels."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_powder

Sodium oxide might be more widely recognized as caustic soda the same stuff found in drain cleaner.

Potassium hydroxide is used as the electrolyte in alkaline batteries. It is the gray stuff the oozes out when you overcharge rechargeable alkaline batteries. I use these batteries in my headlamp and video accessories. Occasionally I store spare batteries in the same pocket as my ferro rod. This could be a possible source of the damage.

Potassium hydroxide is used to chemically assist the removal of hair from animal hides. That might be why BrokenAeroVT suggested it was a leather strap that did the damage.

So far we have not been able to collect any "sticky white soot" to test its affects on Ferrocerium. Our investigation will continue. If we find anything new we will post a follow up video.

We send out a special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for generously donating the soundtrack for our new series "What Happened Here?" Please subscribe and watch for our next mystery.

Music by: Kevin MacLeod
Song: Scheming Weasel (faster version)

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[TheCWR2010]

very interesting? Did you look inside your bag for anything that may have rubbed on it while you are hiking? Could the striker have rubbed it?

[EconoChallenge]

@TheCWR2010 I still keep it in the very same spot. I have not replaced it yet. Nothing has happened to it since. I think that would rule out this idea. The original damage did look more like a reaction to something.

[hobo59]

Battery acid from your AAA's ! Salt from sweat was the catalyst for the batteries to react with the ferrocerium' You created a battery reaction within your fany pack !

[EconoChallenge]

@hobo59 You are the second person to suggest this idea. We are going to have to test it.

[ShoeManShoe68]

I haven't read all the comments but I wanted to ask. Have you had a 9 volt battery near it during storage or travel.

This is probably a dumb question.

[EconoChallenge]

@ShoeManShoe68 No dumb questions on this one! Not a 9 volt but I might have had AAA bats in the same pocket.

[demnlordd666]

you dont need a battery for electrolysis. just an electrolyte solution, like salt or potassium hydroxide, and 2 metals. if active enough they make electricity while rusting. if not it takes electricity to force the rust. on a side note, harbor freight tool stores (@least in california) were selling the 4" long magnesium blocks w/ flint rod and a striker for under 3$ but just as good as 14$type you find in a walmart / big5. cheap test supplies :) find the cure

[hikerfrost]

@EconoChallenge I'm seeing where Shoemanshoe68 is going. He's thinking Electrolysis, and I was thinking the same thing. If you had a ferro rod, and a battery, and a conductive solution in the same vicinity, it would explain the particularly deep gouging in some areas and not others.

[EconoChallenge]

@ESAPOWER We were hoping to have the answer by now. You have given us some great suggestions. We may need to get serious about our science and design an experiement this fall. I know i will not be happy until the mystery is solved!

[ESAPOWER]

@EconoChallenge Oh ! And another idea! Perhaps create a solution of salt, and water. And then ADD the sulfur powder TO that. And have parallel experiment - otherwise known as a control. Have only SALT Water in this one. THat way you can observe the difference. It might be worth buying some cheap firesteels from Ebay for this experiment. Ya lose a few dollars... But it's in the name of good science! And good science is ALL in good observation!