This is my first blog. I don't really like that word. It's to internetty. But anyway, I though I would put this on this site because I have writen it all down in a note book that I have been keeping here in Hong Kong and I'm kinda bored at the moment.

 

     For starters, this new interst of mine is called thermite. Ferro-thermite to be exact. Ferro-thermite is a chemical mixture that burns at approximately 2,500 C, or almost 4,500 F! Steel and glass melt at 2,500 F. This mixture produces an exothermic reaction and is almost impossible to control once it's lit. To light thermite  effectively you can use a stip of magnessium, or you can make a "first fire mix". The mix is a bit complicated and finding potassium nitrate can be a bit difficult. If you are actually reading this and are interested in making it though, it does have an advantage over magnessium. It lights much easier and it is a good way to light thermite. To put it out is a bit dangerous. Pouring water only increases the chances of you getting hurt because once you do, the water will give off hydrogen and may result in an explosion or flares occuring. So don't do that. The only way to control it at all once it's lit is to wait untill it has died down and smuther it with sand. That will control the heat and cover it up.

 

     To make ferro-thermite is made with two basic ingredients. Fe2O3 and Al. Or, iron oxide and almuinum. Iron oxide is rust if you don't know. You need fairly pure Fe2O3 so no, takeing it off a nail or something that you find outside probably won't work. There are a few methods of making it and I will tell you if you ask. But to make it easy, just buy it off a web site. Make sure it's a powder. Most sites require you to be 21 or older to purchase chemicals but some may not. The Al required is best if it is fine. And again the best way to get it is to buy off the net. You could also just break open an etch-a-scetch and use that aluminum. Some autobody paint places have high quality Al. Once you have these two main ingediants, you need to measure them with a ratio of 3:1, Fe2O3 being 3 and Al being the 1. A perfect ratio would be Fe2O3 at 73% and Al at 23% but that's a bit harder to get. This next step is easy. Just mix them up untill they are as one. I like to call it shake and bake. There is no need to worry about it accidently setting off while you are mixing it or when it's being stored. It needs a temperature of about 2,000 F to ignite it, thats why we use magnessium.

 

Here some sites you can buy from that I have used, through a friend.

 

www.kno3.com  magnessium, Fe2O3 powder, Al powder

www.skylighter.com Fe2O3, not sure about the Al, too many to know what is right