russett >Something is amiss in chemistry land,...what could it be?
Yes, aluminium is a strange substance but one can see easily how its chemical properties are altered by its physical state.
I accept the points which you have made about the reductive properties of aluminium. Indeed, in the proper physical state and in the presence of sufficient available oxygen (eg fine, powered aluminium and iron oxide = thermite reaction ) it does burn at a very high temperature, in fact, sufficient to cut steel.
angliacampus.com
I am also aware of the Sheffield and the Argentinian Exocet missile. But it seems that there, too, we are not fully aware of the facts. It is clear that the missile's warhead did not explode but the ship was irreparably damaged by an internal fire which spread rapidly. Nevertheless, whether aluminium was involved or it wasn't, the ship was by no means completely destroyed.
pusserhills.btinternet.co.uk
rn-ddg.narod.ru
But, and this is the point I was trying to make, at the Pentagon, although there was an explosion, the aircraft being of solid aluminium, and not powder, would not burn. And this is the point which the references also make -- that solid aluminium does not vaporize or burn.
Perhaps a passing metallurgist would help us?! |
