Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 So how hot does it have to be for concrete to melt? Just curious for the heck of it? anybody know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 "Concrete is obtained by mixing Portland cement with a coarse and fine aggregates. The coarse aggregate can be limestone, quartz or any other rock with sufficient compressive strength and chemical stability. Cement is made by finely grinding clinker with Gypsum. The fine aggregate is usually quartz sand. Therefore, concrete is very heterogeneous and, as such does not have a melting POINT. Instead, it has a melting range. Quartz sand melts around 1650 C. Cement melts around 1550 C. Limestone decomposes at 825 C into lime, and lime melts at 2572 C. Granite (another aggregate) melts at 1260 C. So, you must reach extremely high temperatures to completely melt concrete." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 At temperatures as low as 600 F. , concrete can "spall", or violently/explosively separate from the structure. Certain chemically fueled fires reach temperatures high enough to spall even high density concrete. Much more likely to occur than melting, and at lower temps. LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Dog Doug Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I have had concrete "spall " when cutting off angle iron that was poured in a slab for safety cables. most pieces where 2-3" across and 1/2" thick . I made fast cuts and if really heated the concrete the piece would alot bigger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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