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Story
February 28, 1913
The Tupelo Journal
Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
Scientists develop thermit, a mixture of granulated aluminum and iron oxide, producing 3,000 degrees centigrade heat to boil iron, exceeding previous records from furnaces, explosives, and flames; enables new applications like quartz melting and efficient combustion.
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WILL MAKE IRON BOIL
SCIENTIFIC MEN SUCCEED IN PRODUCING FIERCE HEAT.
Granulated Aluminum Mixed With Oxide of Iron Resulted in a Temperature of 3,000 Degrees Centigrade, the Record.
For some years past scientific men have been striving to produce heat fiercer than any temperature of which we have experience in ordinary life.
The greatest heat ever developed by the agency of man was obtained by Sir Andrew Noble, who exploded cordite in closed vessels, so that a pressure of 50 tons to the square inch was registered and a degree of heat never previously recorded.
The highest temperature reached in fuel furnaces for practical purposes is between 1,700 and 1,800 degrees centigrade, and at such a heat fire clay and porcelain are melted.
Then we come to the flame fed with oxygen and coal gas; by these means a temperature of 2,000 degrees centigrade may be obtained.
A new industry solely dependent upon the employment of great heat is that of melting quartz. This mineral, fused by the oxy-hydrogen flame, is converted into tubes and flasks and other vessels for chemical purposes. These vessels are absolutely inert, and may be heated hundreds of degrees higher than is possible with glass; they may also be plunged at such heat into cold water without injury.
It has been discovered that by whirling a centrifugal wheel at high velocity in the combustion chamber of a furnace the nitrogen is cast to one side, while the oxygen is concentrated, and in this way a brighter flame and greater heat are obtained. A similar appliance used during the combustion of coal in a furnace enables a firm of paper-makers to save 27 per cent. of their coal bill by the elimination of hydrogen gas formed in combustion.
But most remarkable of all the phases of the utilization of extreme heat is the discovery of the welding material known as thermit. The inventor discovered that aluminium is very much attached to oxygen, and holds it closer than a brother. Therefore he mixed granulated aluminium with oxide of iron, for the lighter metal wants oxygen, and the quantity of magnesium filings was placed on top of the mixture and a storm-match applied, and immediately a mass of molten iron was seen boiling at a temperature of 3,000 degrees centigrade -- much higher than any temperature in ordinary use.
SCIENTIFIC MEN SUCCEED IN PRODUCING FIERCE HEAT.
Granulated Aluminum Mixed With Oxide of Iron Resulted in a Temperature of 3,000 Degrees Centigrade, the Record.
For some years past scientific men have been striving to produce heat fiercer than any temperature of which we have experience in ordinary life.
The greatest heat ever developed by the agency of man was obtained by Sir Andrew Noble, who exploded cordite in closed vessels, so that a pressure of 50 tons to the square inch was registered and a degree of heat never previously recorded.
The highest temperature reached in fuel furnaces for practical purposes is between 1,700 and 1,800 degrees centigrade, and at such a heat fire clay and porcelain are melted.
Then we come to the flame fed with oxygen and coal gas; by these means a temperature of 2,000 degrees centigrade may be obtained.
A new industry solely dependent upon the employment of great heat is that of melting quartz. This mineral, fused by the oxy-hydrogen flame, is converted into tubes and flasks and other vessels for chemical purposes. These vessels are absolutely inert, and may be heated hundreds of degrees higher than is possible with glass; they may also be plunged at such heat into cold water without injury.
It has been discovered that by whirling a centrifugal wheel at high velocity in the combustion chamber of a furnace the nitrogen is cast to one side, while the oxygen is concentrated, and in this way a brighter flame and greater heat are obtained. A similar appliance used during the combustion of coal in a furnace enables a firm of paper-makers to save 27 per cent. of their coal bill by the elimination of hydrogen gas formed in combustion.
But most remarkable of all the phases of the utilization of extreme heat is the discovery of the welding material known as thermit. The inventor discovered that aluminium is very much attached to oxygen, and holds it closer than a brother. Therefore he mixed granulated aluminium with oxide of iron, for the lighter metal wants oxygen, and the quantity of magnesium filings was placed on top of the mixture and a storm-match applied, and immediately a mass of molten iron was seen boiling at a temperature of 3,000 degrees centigrade -- much higher than any temperature in ordinary use.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
Exploration
What keywords are associated?
Extreme Heat
Thermit
Aluminum Oxide Iron
Scientific Achievement
Welding Material
What entities or persons were involved?
Sir Andrew Noble
Story Details
Key Persons
Sir Andrew Noble
Story Details
Scientific men produce record heat of 3,000 degrees centigrade by mixing granulated aluminum with oxide of iron, ignited with magnesium, creating boiling molten iron for welding material thermit, surpassing prior methods like furnaces and oxy-hydrogen flames.