Cindy wrote on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:46:54 -0700 (PDT):

> On Jun 21, 4:30 pm, "James Silverton"
> > wrote:
>> Cindy wrote on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:13:44 -0700 (PDT):
>>
> >>> While we are on the topic of the magic of metallurgy, it
> >>> may interest people to know that powdered aluminum is
> >>> considered to be hazardous materials that is subject to
> >>> spontaneous combustion.
> >> Yeah, but it's more fun if you mix it with an oxidizer and
> >> put it into a cardboard tube.
>>
>> It can be ignited but I really doubt about *spontaneous"
>> combustion even if you could get it to burn. I know if you
>> mix aluminum powder with iron oxide (rust) and ignite it, you
>> get one of the hottest fires that exists and it will even
>> burn below water. They call the mix Thermite.

> I (deliberately) neglected to mention the short piece of
> cannon fuse.

> I can neither confirm nor deny any actual experience with this
> procedure,
> even in my youth.

In 1852, Charles Dickens used Spontaneous Human Combustion to kill off a
character named Krook in his novel "Bleak House". However, that has
always seemed as unlikely as spontaneous combustion of aluminum.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not