View Single Post
Old 4th October 2010, 09:29 AM   #19
The Almond
Graduate Poster
 
The Almond's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,015
Iron microspheres typically form a portion of fly ash produced in coal power plants where the temperature is around 1400 C. As fly ash is a component in concrete, and the iron rich materials don't readily react, any pulverization of concrete materials is going to release them.

Furthermore, iron microspheres are a very common component of dust, especially in an urban environment.

But more to the point in the OP, what can be determined about thermite being used to destroy a building from the iron microsphere content? Absolutely nothing. We know that iron microspheres are a common component of dust and ash. That means the question is if the use of thermite will produce MORE iron microspheres, and without a suitable standard experiment (i.e., one where two buildings of similar size and composition are destroyed, one with thermite, one without), nothing can be shown from the presence of these spheres.
__________________
"Perfection, even in stupidity, is difficult to achieve without a conscious effort."--pomeroo, JREF Forum Member
The Almond is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top