Spontaneous combustion (combustion)

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Spontaneous combustion is the self-ignition of a material. Spontaneous combustion starts when oxidation occurs within a substance, which releases heat. If the heat does not escape from the material, and the temperature of the material rises above its ignition point, spontaneous combustion will occur.

1 Materials which can spontaneously combust
2 Safety
3 Pyrophoric materials
4 In popular culture
5 See also
6 Sources
7 External links

[edit] Materials which can spontaneously combust

Haystacks and unprocessed cotton may self-ignite because of heat produced by bacterial fermentation of the hay.
Boiled Linseed oil can heat and ignite when exposed to air.
Stacked rubber artifacts, such as tires and some types of mattress can spontaneously combust due to friction.
The element sodium may appear to spontaneously combust, but this is a reaction to moisture in the air.

[edit] Safety

The threat of spontaneous combustion can be reduced by placing the material in a self-closing disposal can, or placing it in a pail of a fluid which will not aid the reaction, such as water, kerosene (especially for reactive metals, which may ignite upon contact with water), or an inert gas.

[edit] Pyrophoric materials

Main article: Pyrophoricity

Pyrophoric materials are substances which have an autoignition temperature which is below room temperature. These materials may ignite spontaneously when exposed to air or water.

[edit] In popular culture

In the movie This Is Spinal Tap, the drummers of the band Spinal Tap are known to spontaneously combust.
In season 3, episode 2 of the television series South Park, residents of South Park begin spontaneously combusting. It is found out that this is because of the residents holding in their farts too long.