What is the manufacturing process and use of thermite?

Thermite is a kind of compound composed of active metal and metal oxide, which is usually mixed in powder form Different types of metals can be used, but the most common combination is made of aluminum and iron oxide (rust), which are active metals The two metals are ground into powder or shavings and then mixed together In this case, the mixture is still relatively safe as long as it is not exposed to high temperature Once there is an appropriate ignition source application, the thermite will produce a strong exothermic reaction, but this is not an inherent explosive reaction Although thermit can be made from different metals, the most typical combination is aluminum and iron oxide Aluminum is used because it is an active metal with high boiling point and low melting point The high boiling point of aluminium is important because it reaches the highest temperature during the thermic reaction (a process of combustion of the constituent, usually limited by the boiling point of the reactive metal) Because of its low price, aluminum is very suitable for commercial and industrial use Although other metals such as chromium and copper can also be used, iron oxide is a cheaper metal oxide The basic thermite reaction consists of two metals, aluminum and iron oxide, which are combined to introduce a very high hot spot fire source The standard ignition cap and fuse usually do not work, and magnesium strips are generally used to achieve the heat required to start the reaction When magnesium reaches a certain high temperature, iron oxide and aluminum combine to produce free elements such as iron, aluminum oxide, and huge heat The ignition of thermite is an exothermic reaction, which means that more heat is generated in the reaction than is needed to create it, and the released energy intensity can be heated to about 2500 ℃ This thermite reaction is used in many commercial and manufacturing applications The process is also used to extract metals from buildings because the final composition can produce pure metals The high temperature produced by this reaction can also be used to melt metals and to weld and cut metals However, care must be taken when welding because the use of molten metal tends to form bubbles and potential weaknesses Thermite is useful even underwater, because the reaction actually produces its own supply of oxygen that continues to drive the reaction.