Part 4/7:
A critical takeaway was the role of aluminum powder in thermite's reactivity. Covered in aluminum oxide, the aluminum maintains stability under normal conditions, meaning that it requires extreme heat to break down this protective layer. The demonstrator explicitly noted that the high activation energy required for this reaction means that common ignition methods, like a lighter or propane torch, simply wouldn't suffice.
To effectively ignite the thermite, a barium hydroxide igniter was introduced, drawing parallels with sparklers that produce sufficient heat to overcome the aluminum oxide barrier. This notable difference underlines the importance of deliberate ignition methods for handling thermite safely.