• Question: what is spontanius conbustion

    Asked by ultimatum to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean, Viv on 16 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 16 Mar 2012:

      Spontaneous combustion is a type of combustion which occurs without an external ignition source. How does this happen?
      1. A substance with a relatively low ignition temperature (hay, straw, peat, etc.) begins to release heat. This may occur in several ways, usually oxidation by a little moisture & air, bacterial fermentation generates heat.
      2. The heat is unable to escape (hay, straw, peat, etc. are good thermal insulators), and the temperature of the material rises.
      3. The temperature of the material rises above its ignition point (even though much of the bacteria are destroyed by ignition temperatures).
      4. Combustion begins if sufficient oxidizer, such as oxygen, & fuel are present to maintain the reaction into thermal run-away.

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