A method of welding which makes use of the exothermic reaction which occurs when a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide powders is ignited. When ignited, this mixture produces superheated liquid steel and aluminum oxide slag at approximately 2760°C (5000°F). The liquid steel is sufficiently hot to melt and dissolve any metal with which it comes in contact and fuses with it to form a solid homogeneous mass when cooled. For this reason, this process is especially adapted to welding heavy steel and cast iron sections, such as those used in locomotive, marine, crankshaft and steel mill repairs, and is also used in pipe welding and rail welding. See THERMITE WELDING.

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