Examining The Thermite Reaction Front

2016-06-07

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I experiment with thermite to determine the rate of reaction. Thermite powder is burned in a pyrex tube and filmed from the side, so the reaction front can be seen moving through the powder. I was amazed at how slow the reaction progressed - It's extremely dependent on the container. Based on the results I observed, I would expect the fastest achievable reaction would be loosely-packed powder in a large and low-aspect-ratio thermally insulating vessel like a flowerpot.

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grapes

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http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626