• disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    They’re referring to the relationship between surface area and combustion. Talc, for example, melts but does not burn. Talc powder can ignite if blown over an open flame.

    • PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk
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      2 days ago

      My first thought was: “I must try this”. I need to read my house insurance policy first.

      Curiosity got the better of me when I waved an alcohol wipe over an open flame. There’s still a dark mark on the office carpet tile from where I had to stamp it out.

      • spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        2 days ago

        Please invest in a fire blanket and keep it near by when you do stupid things with fire.

        Signed, a fellow fire bug

        Mine paid for itself the first time a flame got out of control while I was having some fun. No lasting burns to human or objects in my office lol.

      • Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de
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        2 days ago

        Keep away from dust explosions, they are very uncontrollable because they ignite very fast and produce a lot of heat. It’s technically not an explosion, but it definitely is an easy way to burn your house down.

        • Grimpen@lemmy.ca
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          2 days ago

          Mythbusters did this with coffee whitener as I recall. Impressive.

          This has also happened to sawmills and flour mills, under less controlled circumstances.