Also thermit. [ad. Ger. thermit, f. Gr. θέρμη heat, θερμός hot + -it = -ITE1.] A mixture of finely divided aluminum and oxide of iron or other metal, which produces on combustion a very high temperature (c. 3000° C.).
Invented by Mr. Claude Vauten of London; named subsequently by Dr. H. Goldschmidt of Essen.
1900. Engineering Mag., XIX. 756/2. A mixture called ‘thermit’ consisting essentially of iron oxide and aluminium.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 2 May, 4/2. The application of ‘thermite,’ as the mixture has been named, to welding steel tubes and rails was illustrated.
1901. Nature, 8 Aug., 362/1. To this mixture the name of ‘thermit’ has been given, and several varieties of it, adapted to various kinds of work, are used.
1906. Dundee Advertiser, 26 June, 10/1. The heat developed in the combustion of thermit,… which makes it possible to mend iron castings weighing tons.
