Thermate Composition

Thermate was developed to improve upon the properties of thermite for military incendiary applications. While standard thermite is effective at melting through steel, its utility can be limited by its very high ignition temperature and its reliance on a solid-state reaction. Thermate addresses these issues through chemical additives. The primary additive, barium nitrate, is a salt containing a high percentage of oxygen. When heated, it decomposes and releases this oxygen, which then participates in the combustion. This makes the reaction more vigorous and produces a more significant flame effect, which is useful for igniting surrounding materials. It also allows the mixture to burn more effectively in enclosed spaces or even underwater, where access to atmospheric oxygen is limited.

The second key additive is sulfur. Its role is to lower the activation energy of the overall reaction. Sulfur forms low-melting-point eutectics with the other components, which facilitates the initiation of the reaction at a lower temperature than pure thermite. This makes ignition more reliable, a critical factor for military ordnance. Sometimes, a binder (like polybutadiene acrylonitrile) is also added to the mixture to create a more solid, stable charge that can be cast into specific shapes. The combination of these components results in a material that is easier to ignite, burns more energetically, and is more effective as a general-purpose incendiary agent than thermite alone. The AN-M14 TH3 grenade, used by the U.S. military, is a classic example, capable of burning through a half-inch steel plate and destroying sensitive equipment.