Self-combustion, also known as spontaneous combustion, is the ignition of a material without an external source of ignition, typically due to internal chemical reactions generating enough heat to raise the material to its ignition point. This process often occurs with materials that are readily oxidizable, such as oily rags, certain agricultural products, and some industrial chemicals. Factors influencing self-combustion include the material's composition, surface area, insulation, and the ambient temperature.
Self-combustion meaning with examples
- The lab technician was horrified when the oily rags in the waste bin underwent self-combustion, quickly engulfing the flammable storage area. It ignited a chain reaction, narrowly avoiding a complete lab inferno.
- Hay bales, improperly stored and damp, can experience self-combustion, especially during periods of high humidity and inadequate ventilation. It's a significant concern for farmers.
- A shipment of improperly packaged potassium permanganate was found to have undergone self-combustion. Inspectors later found it'd reacted with moisture in the shipping containers.
- The historical account vividly described the dramatic self-combustion of coal piles stored near a riverside warehouse. The ensuing fire destroyed much of the infrastructure.
- Certain types of finely divided coal, like those left in the old mines, can present a self-combustion risk if not properly handled and stored away from oxygen.