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Old 02-04-08 | 01:03 PM
  #13  
T-Mar
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Originally Posted by evictionsurplus
I would bring some welding glass to see 21 lbs of magnesium bike frame go up in flames. I would giggle like a school girl while risking retina damage to watch it burn.

Edit: Ken: You, as an engineer would hang a hunk of Magnesium over your fireplace? Eeek!

There is no concern there. In order to burn, you would have grind those frames up into fine particles to increase the oxygen to magnesium contact ratio. It burns only as a powder or very thin ribbon. A larger, solid piece will not ignite. Think of it. It is used in all kinds of lightweight, high temperature applications like engine blocks without concern. When a race car bursts into flames, the magnesium rims, transmission casings, engine blocks, etc, do not go up in flames with it. If they did, few very drivers would survive and most race car fans would be suffering from varying degrees of blindness.

Last edited by T-Mar; 02-04-08 at 01:20 PM.
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