See Also: thermite(dictionary)

thermite (iou)



thermite noun. E20.
[from THERM(O- + -ITE1.]
A mixture of finely divided aluminium with a metal oxide, esp. an iron oxide, which produces a very high temperature (c 3000C) when ignited.
Comb.: thermite process (a) the reduction of finely divided oxides of iron or other metals by an exothermic reaction with finely divided aluminium; (b) thermite welding; thermite welding fusion welding in which the heat and the weld metal are produced by the thermite process.