Just wondering, would thermite get hot enough that I could use a plastic vessel to store it for the purposes of starting a reaction, and not get
significant chemical impurities?
(My ideal procedure would be to have this plastic vessel over a hole lined with sand. I'm trying to remove as many impurities as possible from the
equation.)
[Edited on 27-5-2009 by The Fountain of Discordia]hissingnoise - 27-5-2009 at 05:47
Just wondering, would thermite get hot enough that I could use a plastic vessel to store it for the purposes of starting a reaction, and not get
significant chemical impurities?
"Fe2O3 +2Al--->2Fe +Al2O3 + ~3000*C ;somewhat more than hot enough---not sure what you're asking re impurities. . .littlepop - 27-5-2009 at 06:59
I just use an aluminum or steel can. Any of either of those entering the result wouldn't be a contaminate.
Lord knows what you'd end up with from the plastic. You might even create toxic fumes.littlepop - 27-5-2009 at 07:01
Also, you'd set the plastic on fire big time. You want to have to extingiush that or wait for it to burn out?hissingnoise - 27-5-2009 at 12:23
The likeliest source of contaminants would be the sand you're using. . .
A container of mild steel, m.p. >1500*C (Al ~660*C)would be adequate!
All products from plastic will be gaseous but high-temperature incineration of chlorinated plastics like PVC can produce dioxins.
[Edited on 27-5-2009 by hissingnoise]The Fountain of Discordia - 27-5-2009 at 13:38
The likeliest source of contaminants would be the sand you're using. . .
A container of mild steel, m.p. <1500*C (Al ~660*C)would be adequate!
All products from plastic will be gaseous but high-temperature incineration of chlorinated plastics like PVC can produce dioxins.
[Edited on 27-5-2009 by hissingnoise]
But wouldn't removing the glass be rather trivial?panziandi - 27-5-2009 at 14:45
The Fountain of Discordia it would be helpful if, when starting a thread, you give as much information as possible. Reading the starting thread I am
not sure exactly what you are doing, or asking.
I am assuming you are performing the Fe2O3 + 2Al => 2Fe + Al2O3 thermite reaction and collecting the Fe that is formed?
Use a terracotta flower pot or cast iron container or even a pot made from compressed alumina and have the molten Fe formed drip onto sand, then you
can remove the sand that is on the Fe by a quick wash in HF Very little
contamination will be introduced IMHO.
Plastic is just the most redic idea surely? It will immediately ignite and burn, likely producing copious tar and carbon soot which would contaminate
your Fe, also mechanical loss of containment could result in the reaction mixture not being contained, and the consequences of that could be many.The Fountain of Discordia - 27-5-2009 at 15:13
Sorry! I am reacting Fe3O4, not Fe2O3. Wouldn't ~3000*C be enough to get rid of everything but the carbon?hissingnoise - 28-5-2009 at 11:44
I would have thought carbon too would be oxidised at the sustained high heat of the reaction.
It is a slow deflagration, after all. . .
Very little
contamination will be introduced IMHO.