Microscale Thermite Reaction

(fas.harvard.edu)

52 points | by krunck 5 hours ago

7 comments

  • mannykannot 1 hour ago
    I have something I want to remove rust from, so I have been thinking about sand blasting. Thus, this thought popped into my head: how spectacular would it be to use aluminum powder? (To be clear, I am not going to try this.)

    My wife’s reaction to this was “You guys…” but I know she would absolutely want to watch if someone was going to try it.

    • brucer42 56 minutes ago
      Great laugh at end of micro demo video.
      • imzadi 4 hours ago
        Does the second rusty ball really need to be a rusty ball since it is covered in foil?
        • xnx 3 hours ago
          Might improve the odds of reaction to have iron on both sides? Would the reaction also work if both balls were covered in foil?
          • phyzome 3 hours ago
            Doubles the reaction.
          • jiggawatts 2 hours ago
            Based on the title I was expecting to see “energetic materials”, which are carefully engineered variants of thermite.

            For example, alternating layers of aluminium and iron oxide can be deposited in the same manner as seen in chip production by evaporating the materials in a vacuum chamber.

            This allows layers tens of nanometers thin, essentially a perfect mixing and a very intimate contact between the reactants.

            Some of these materials have far more bang per unit mass than conventional explosives.

          • krunck 5 hours ago
            Please try this at home. You all have rusty iron ball laying around, right?
            • gorgoiler 1 minute ago
              [delayed]
              • fer 4 hours ago
                It wouldn't be weird for someone in the south of France to have a rusty pétanque ball.
                • Terr_ 2 hours ago
                  Now you can be hoisted not just in your own petard, but also in your own pétanque.
                  • ece 3 hours ago
                    This clearly calls for thermite petanque.
                  • jcims 4 hours ago
                    Hammer faces would work (def wear goggles!!!). Hit the face of the disposable one with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and salt and wait an hour.
                    • xattt 4 hours ago
                      Joining the thread to see where iron balls can be sourced.

                      Some vendor on AliExpress? Those Lucky Iron Fish?

                      • mhb 3 hours ago
                        Cast iron pan left outside for a day or two.
                        • dgacmu 4 hours ago
                          This might work with old iron dumbbells (or modern iron kettle balls if left unpainted). Your gym might hate you for it though.
                          • lstodd 4 hours ago
                            I'd guess exact form wouldn't matter. Wrap a hammer in foil and beat up something rusty.
                        • trhway 2 hours ago
                          that brings childhood memories. Not too microscale though. Rust was everywhere in USSR. Small buckets of rust, small buckets of aluminum powder. When we experimentally discovered the reaction - we were too young still for school chemistry lessons - it was "microscale" - we burned a hole in the kitchen table in my friend's apartment (like a true hero he told his parents that he was alone and received the punishment :) We also tried to make a rocket using the mix as the rocket fuel - it burned the whole rocket like a huge firework :)
                          • mrnotcrazy 3 hours ago
                            Does the ball need to be iron? Can we just take a 3d printed sphere, paint it with glue ,roll it around in a bucket of rust and then smash?
                            • mannykannot 1 hour ago
                              I would guess you need something rigid and dense to generate enough pressure, though I don’t know if that rules out your suggestion. It does not have to be a ball.