Bull
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- Oct 22, 2022
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- #1
"Thermite (/ˈθɜːrmaɪt/) is a pyrotechnic composition of metal powder and metal oxide. When ignited by heat or chemical reaction, thermite undergoes an exothermic reduction-oxidation (redox) reaction. Most varieties are not explosive, but can create brief bursts of heat and high temperature in a small area. Its form of action is similar to that of other fuel-oxidizer mixtures, such as black powder. The reaction, also called the Goldschmidt process, burns up to 3,000 degrees celsius and is used for thermite welding, often used to join railway tracks. Thermites have also been used in metal refining, disabling munitions, and in incendiary weapons."
I propose the creation of three new items that can be combined to make this: Iron Oxide, Aluminium Powder and Magnesium
Aluminium Powder
Assuming that the Breen Water's Private Reserve cans are aluminium (which they likely are considering most cans of the same fashion are made in that way) you would have to crush the can into small parts, which could easily be achieved when the can is empty with your bare hands. Now with your small chunks of aluminium all you would have to do is grind it using a Coffee Machine (giving new use to an otherwise insignificant and trivial item) and refine it by crushing the powder using something like a mortar and pestle (but a big, smooth rock and a plastic bowl will probably do the trick which you would just have to RP).
Considering how insignificant this item is on its own I find it reasonable that it is relatively easy to obtain (unless you're gonna use it like pocket sand or something). Granted, most cans use an aluminium alloy, but it could be argued that the Combine find the use of aluminium ultimately insignificant and that other materials typically found in alloys of aluminium such as magnesium could be re-used for a better purpose. On top of that, the cans are implied to be relatively weak since you can break them down with your bare hands easily right now and turn it into plastic garbage, it isnt unreasonable to assume that they dont have things added in that make the can strong.
Iron Oxide
Just because City 24 is full of rusty things doesnt mean this is easy to obtain. I propose the creation of Iron Oxide should exist in the game through multiple ways:
1: Electrolysis
Getting a source of iron (Iron already exists as a resource in the game) you would need to put it in a non-conductive source of water (Empty Jar from food ration is a good example) you would need to find a power source (these generators with crocodile clippers exist around the map which have a positive and negative charge), connect them to 2 leads to make an anode and cathode, submerge the Iron, turn on the generator, wait a bit for the oxidation process to happen, filter the solution (easily done through Cloth Rags) and dry it (able to be done using a Rusty Oven). This would make you pure Iron Oxide, after waiting a few in game hours.
2. Strong Oxidiser
Using something like steel wool (could probably make out of Scrap Iron in a Furnace or find in a resource node of garbage), you would need an oxidising agent (Obtainable through BMDs or by finding Bleach). This process would be as simple as submerging the metal in the solution but it would take a lot longer then electrolysis (several in game days)
3. Burning Steel Wool
Again using steel wool, you would need a fireproof surface (Glass lid from a microwave would be ideal, and could either be made or found in a Resource Node). You would need to get a 9V Battery and touch it to the Steel Wool, to connect the positive and negative leads, which would then burn the wool to form Black Rust.
Magnesium
I do not know a way to obtain this in a homemade way, if someone knows how in the comments let me know. My current proposal for Magnesium is that it would probably have to be bought from BMDs for relatively cheap since all you need is a small ribbon of it to start the process.
Now that ALL of these parts have been combined together, all you would need to do is mix both powders together, stick a magnesium fuse inside and then light it to begin the Goldschmidt process. I believe that this would be a very good alternative to do damage to civilian and Combine infrastructure, a particularly grisly way to execute Civil Protection (light the thermite on top of their Combinite helmets) and many, many more possible options that Rebels come up with. This could also be possibly used by the CWU as a way to weld railway tracks together, since thermite welding is often used to do so and the Combine likes using trains (Razor trains).
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