# Ignition Point of Aluminum

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignition-point-of-aluminum/368922>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2006, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignition-point-of-aluminum/368922 "2006-08-16T08:19:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignition-point-of-aluminum/368922/1 "2006-08-16T08:19:17Z")

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I know that when the stuff get’s hot enough, it’ll burn, but I don’t know what temp that is. Anybody know?

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**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignition-point-of-aluminum/368922/2 "2006-08-16T11:03:37Z")

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I’ve seen strips of magnesium, which burns at approximately 2200C, used to ignite a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide (thermite) for welding electrical wire.

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**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignition-point-of-aluminum/368922/3 "2006-08-16T11:32:39Z")

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You can ignite aluminum dust with a match. I’ve seen it done.

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**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignition-point-of-aluminum/368922/4 "2006-08-16T11:40:42Z")

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For powder it is [590 deg C](http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/_icsc09/icsc0988.htm). The solid stuff doesn’t catch fire (which is a good thing for aircraft bodies etc.)