Joni Goodman

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Thermite Reactions
A chemistry honors project

• By
• Joni Goodman
• Courtney Jolley
• Chipola Junior College

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What is a thermite reaction?

• A thermite reaction is an exothermic reaction in
  which aluminum metal and iron oxide react to form
  aluminum oxide and iron metal.
• It reaches very high temperatures and causes the
  metals to melt due to the heat reached.

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• The chemical equation for a thermite reaction is

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Uses for Thermite Reactions

• It is often used in welding for things such as
  railroad tracks.
• It can be used in weapons such as bombs and
  grenades as incendiary devices.
• It is used as an oxidizer with ammonium
  perchlorate to provide the thrust for the space
  shuttle.
• It has also been used to purify some ores of
  metals such as uranium.

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• A thermite reaction can be mixed and stored and
  be considered generally safe because it has such
  a high initial ignition requirement.

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• An example of a thermite reaction

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Another thermite reaction
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History of the Reaction

• Soon after metallic aluminum was first isolated,
  both Sainte-Claire Deville and Wöhler noted that,
  if mixed with oxides of certain metals and
  supplied with enough heat, it would melt the
  metals.
• In 1895, Dr. Hans Goldschmidt applied this
  process and discovered what we call the thermite
  reaction.
•           

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Natural Occurrences of Thermite Reactions
     On April 6, 1999, a fire occurred at a
filling station in West Yorkshire during a road
tanker delivery involving the operation of stage
1b vapor balancing equipment. It was when
the HSL scientist noticed the combination of
aluminum and rusty steel in the form of aluminum
couplings and steel banding on the delivery hose,
that incendive sparks from a thermite reaction
were suspected.
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In a recent incident at a chemical plant, two
beds of titanium structured packing in a
distillation tower ignited. Ignition occurred
while a hand held battery powered grinder was in
use as part of an inspection activity. Sparks
formed when the grinder touched stainless steel
or titanium are believed to have initiated a
thermite reaction between the thin sheet titanium
structured packing and a dried iron oxide layer
that had accumulated on the packing surfaces.