Ferrocerium

Auermetall, sometimes also called mischmetal, is the name for various pyrophoric cerium -iron alloys. They were first manufactured by Carl Auer von Welsbach and registered in 1903 under the registration number DE 154 807 patent. In the patent specification 70 % cerium are given to 30 % iron as the optimal ratio.

Auermetall I is an alloy of ( purified ) cerium and iron, from which one can easily scrape sparks.

Auermetall II is enriched by the element lanthanum cerium -iron alloy, which forms a particularly bright sparks.

Auermetall III is produced by alloying iron with unpurified " Cer" that accompanies the natural occurrence accordingly by other rare-earth metals ( mixed ) is. It was therefore also called earth metal and later renamed Auermetall III.

Carl Auer von Welsbach wanted to achieve economic gains with all three variants. However, the first two could not prevail on the market, only easier to produce more cost-effective Auermetall III was spread worldwide as a flint in the lighter industry.

Earlier fire was Firemaking from suitable metals (iron alloys, marcasite ) generated by brittle flint. Well in terms of it - the only purpose in mind - the term flint was introduced for the ductile metal alloy mischmetal. The resulting sparks are by machining ( shaving off the thin metal shavings) generated incurred so hot that they ignite on contact with air and burn white-hot. The Zündrädchen of lighters - in gas-lighters, it can also be a stick - wearing this fine teeth made ​​of hardened steel, like a file, which transfer from the metallic flint characteristic immediately any incandescent chips.

See also mixed metal and Treibacher Industries