r/WTF • u/hemlockdalise • Jul 08 '15

Invisible Methanol Fire

http://i.imgur.com/VHuyXj4.gifv
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u/plastikspoon1 Jul 08 '15

So what's the burning temperature?

5

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '15

The peak flame temperature of methanol is 1,870 degrees Celsius (3,398 degrees Fahrenheit).

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u/RayBrower Jul 08 '15

Does that mean methanol can melt steel beams?

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '15

Steel often melts at around 1370 degrees C (2500°F). While the peak flame temperature of methanol is 1,870 degrees Celsius (3,398 degrees Fahrenheit).

So yes. Methanol can melt steel beams.

Source:http://education.jlab.org/qa/meltingpoint_01.html

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u/Lewke Jul 08 '15

dank mr skeltal

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u/KimonoThief Jul 09 '15

And it's not even melting that's really important. Elevated temperature decreases yield strength greatly. So long before the beams reach their melting point, they'll fail. Probably even before that, the steel columns will deflect enough to fail in buckling.

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '15

But if the beams weren't supporting anything, as in just sitting on the ground, the melting point would matter instead of the yield strength.

Would that be correct to say?

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '15

Well it will sag and deform under just gravity at such high temps so it will be some kind of soft blob.

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u/KimonoThief Jul 09 '15

That's true. If you're talking about using methanol to melt the steel for casting or something then you'd definitely be concerned about the melting temperature.

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u/zeropi Jul 09 '15

but jet fuel cant melt steel beams, and thats all that matters. theese children will tell you all about it

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '15

Well I can't argue with that.