Thermal Video of Coffee Heated by Thermite

This video shows how the silica-based thermite reaction used in certain brands of self-heating coffee cans can rapidly increase the temperature of the coffee inside in under three minutes. I used a FLIR thermal imaging camera that attached to my iPhone to capture this footage. Feel free to check out my previous videos where I break down the chemistry that drives this heating mechanism, as well as shows a breakdown of the heating device itself.

[@markbajek2541]

It would be great to do a chemical comp test of before and after the thermite to see if anything leached into the coffee.

[@thomasjp5847]

Agreed, indeed.

[@LightBlueVans]

i’d love to see that

[@21Walls]

We should create a whole government agency to test foods before they are put to market. We can call it the "Food and Drug Administration."

[@siyacer]

​@@21Wallshopefully it won't be paid off by corpos to allow literal poison in food while banning things like raw milk

[@deker0954]

Or leached into another filler besides coffee.

[@velfaern1716]

I would 100% have not gotten a C in my first and only chem class if I’d had a teacher like this. I can’t even think of a time we did one single physical chemical reaction which is a bummer because I wanted to be a chemist as a kid. Crunching numbers gets super old and mind numbing when you don’t take breaks to see what your math would be doing in real life (when you don’t enjoy math). Subbed after I watched the wax ignition a few minutes ago. Sweet videos! Looking forward to more.

[@gilflannigan3910]

Just watched all your shorts and now im here. I love science and chem. But i hated highschool. I promise ive learned more here than the 4 years i wasted at highschool. ❤ dope videos. You explain stuff super clearly.

[@hellishmland1530]

I love thermite❤❤❤❤❤. Thankyou. Its fab stuff!

[@gus473]

Impressive results, even if it was not an exciting experience. ☕ 😎✌️

[@blakebaugh]

Glad you are teaching us.

[@skeletino420]

would it be possible to use a clear acrylic tube in place of the can, like cut the can how you did before and tape the tube to it and fill it with water so we could watch it heat up? not that we would see much but it would still be neat to see if maybe the metal discolours at all or if the water touching it boils.

[@sanches2]

It is a great idea, but it is a little wasteful for one time use drink flask. A lot of aluminium and production cost/energy. Idk, it is cool though:) i'd love to see stainless travel mug with interchangeable chemical cartridges, but it will be tricky to sell/ship

[@Rduino]

I wonder if you could cast a tiny dagger using the molten aluminum from the can removed reaction

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

Love my Flir camera. It’s so fascinating to see the different colors coming from the different temperatures. Hugz, Tree

[@dianthis]

Ive never heard of this product. If it’s recyclable it would be good for hiking when you want a hot cup of coffee.

[@thatprogramer]

Damn i need to get a thermal camera!

[@rietzhu]

Yes, because every human needs to be entertained to learn something.. 🤦‍♂️

[@4.0.4]

Does it bother anybody else how misaligned some FLIR cameras are?

[@carlosfixon5077]

Do you know or hear of some special weird water that you can put your hand in it when it's boiling? Its also very expensive

[@ap-isa54]

Why the heck are people worried about the coffee?

[@Genghisbeard]

Some coffee contain harmful amounts of lead and cadmium

[@iamgriff]

I wish I attended your high school Phil.

[@SilasDrums]

I just so intersting, I don‘t regret , that I‘ve chosen Chemistry in 8th grade

[@Khether0001]

I was expecting you would show us the state of the core after it reacted with coffee around it, is it not all black and melted?

[@Cheese_Is_Dead]

Omg bro ofc it isn't melted

[@cazp64]

I have a question for you. Is there any chemical reaction that produces heat for more than 8 hours. If so, could that process be repeated with the same chemicals used after the heat has dissipated? (I have an invention in mind 😐)

[@gilflannigan3910]

You need to get rid of a body right?

[@cazp64]

Ha! Now that’s an invention! I need something small that will radiate low heat for over 8 hours when the temperature drops to 2°C. Then I need it to stop radiating heat above that temperature. Then, I’d like it to repeat as soon as the temperature drops again. This is an impossible invention. Unless you have any ideas?

[@penonton4260]

I think this technology is very useful for making instant ramen/pasta. for emergencies. just need to add regular mineral water for cooking. and no special tools are needed to cook . 😎

[@randombox955]

😮

[@louwrentius]

I love your videos, the science of what is happening is interesting, but I want to point out the obvious: this product is wasteful and polluting. This coffee product should not exist 🤷‍♀️🌷

[@Cheese_Is_Dead]

How? It's an element that isn't rare.

[@kidwolf0015]

I know that several food products using similar technologies are often used by military groups and those in intense survival situations. Lots of military grade self-heating MREs are produced. Then again, they'd probably just use the potent caffeine gum instead of a bulky supar serving of coffee that provides like a third of the caffeine at best... ... Actually, yeah. You've got a point. This basically has no use case once you consider the existance of caffeinated gum packs. This is a strictly novelity item.

[@kidwolf0015]

​@@Cheese_Is_DeadThere is a lot of unnecessary packaging and processing for a product that basically has no real use case. Even if all the materials are common, it doesn't change the fact that it's a pretty wasteful product overall.

[@Cheese_Is_Dead]

@@kidwolf0015 it's almost exactly a can buddy

[@MicahPachirisuGuy]

I mean rust+aluminum= good lockpick

[@SentryFather]

Imagine hijacking a plane with 40 cans of coffee, that would be ridiculous 💀

[@sillykitty9080]

Did I every say how good lookin you are 🥴🥴🥴

[@Jasonradiation999]

I can see these cans becoming a big worry. Imagine, if you would, i save 30 cans by not activating the heat element. And just warming the coffee in a cup in the micro. I now have a bunch of easy to get thermite and a theoretical thermal detonator for said thermite. Besides all that what if you dr8nk the coffee cold and tossed the can in the trash.? A twist of the base and .... the trash truck is stankin up the neighborhood with fire😅 its not funny..but the product kinda is!

[@Cheese_Is_Dead]

Dude you don't know what you're talking about.

[@tjtweedy3189]

I need this but hot cocoa

[@litigioussociety4249]

I hate coffee, but hot coffee out of can is just weird.

[@rietzhu]

You’re weird. Lil weeaboo boo

[@Cheese_Is_Dead]

Ok

[@piconano]

I wish people would stop buying one-time-use landfills. Learn to make coffee. It's as easy as boiling water!

[@louwrentius]

Capitalism only works if you buy stuff you don’t need, with money you don’t have. 🤷‍♀️🌷

[@Cheese_Is_Dead]

No