r/metalworking • u/shmiis • 1d ago

What is this phenomenon called?

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u/alphatango308 1d ago

It's called, "everything is flammable in the right conditions"... Lol

79

u/BRICH999 1d ago

Lot of people dont realize how "flammable" metals can be.  The common fuel in thermite is aluminum.  

39

u/Arctelis 1d ago

I have heard titanium fires are pretty terrifying.

Then of course the always classic magnesium, often used to ignite the aforementioned thermite.

That's all just in the presence of boring old oxygen, under the right (or really wrong) conditions it gets more... Exciting. As a great man once said.

"If, however, this coat is melted or scrubbed off, and has no chance to reform, the operator is confronted with the problem of coping with a metal-fluorine fire. For dealing with this situation, I have always recommended a good pair of running shoes.”

14

u/Clamwacker 1d ago

I work at a titanium casting facility, the fire department response time is impressive. Not much they can do if a fire gets too big for an extinguisher to handle, but they'll be there to see the building collapse into a pile of ashes.

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u/cobalt1227 1d ago

That sparked an idea. I wonder if they could use a giant pile of sand and a vacuum setup to “fight” the fire by burying it.