pyrophoric
Feb. 18th, 2015 07:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordpyrophoric (pai-roh-FOR-ik) - adj., spontaneously igniting in air; producing sparks when struck or scraped (esp. with steel).
Igniting, specifically, at a low temperature (<55°C). Pyrophoric materials are useful in, e.g., lighters and flintlock firearms, but many are dangerous to work with, as white phosphorus. The two phenomena described are related: many pyrophoric materials are stable in bulk but ignite as a small particle, and the scraping rubs off said particles. Adopted in 1836 from Greek meaning fire-bearing.
---L.
Igniting, specifically, at a low temperature (<55°C). Pyrophoric materials are useful in, e.g., lighters and flintlock firearms, but many are dangerous to work with, as white phosphorus. The two phenomena described are related: many pyrophoric materials are stable in bulk but ignite as a small particle, and the scraping rubs off said particles. Adopted in 1836 from Greek meaning fire-bearing.
---L.
