• Bad_Engineering@fedia.io
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    16 days ago

    It’s not oil, its molten aluminum judging from how bright and white the flame is and the fact that the machine is an aluminum bar extruder. People don’t generally realize how insanely flammable aluminum can be when it is reduced to a fine enough powder. Powdered aluminum mixed with an oxidizer is what makes fire crackers go bang. It’s also one of the two main ingredient in thermite.

    • Sc00ter@lemmy.zip
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      16 days ago

      Its not just aluminum either. Many powedered metals can do this too. And once it starts, theres no good way to extinguish it. You basically have to let it burn out.

      Im personalty familiar with the effects of titanium

      • Bad_Engineering@fedia.io
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        16 days ago

        Very true, I’ve machined titanium before and a titanium fire is not fun. Its a lot more flammable than aluminum as you can ignite larger chips and ribbons of titanium.

        Edit for: words are hard