Spontaneous Combustion of Linseed Oil

Spontaneous Combustion is Real!

Spontaneous combustion describes the phenomenon where substances catch fire all by themselves. For example, some substances like white phosphorus ignite on contact with air. Substances where exposure to air causes fire are known as pyrophoric. Other examples of spontaneous combustion include damp hay bales and trash heaps igniting due to heat generated by microbes. Of significance to the average person is the spontaneous combustion of rags soaked in linseed oil. Many instances of this occurring have been recorded. Thus I decided to conduct the following experiment as a public service announcement.

Materials:

• 8 rags
• 1 can of boiled linseed oil
• 1 empty metal gallon can
• 1 Thermometer
• Fire extinguisher
• Stopwatch

Procedure: 

1. The rags were laid out and linseed oil was poured on until they were covered evenly.
2. The soaked rages were gently wadded up and placed into the gallon can while making sure they were not packed too tightly.                       
3. The thermometer was inserted into the midst of the rags. 
4. The timer was started and the temperature recorded every 10 minutes until the rags caught fire. 

Ambient temperature 100˚F (37˚C)

Start: <140˚C

10min: <140˚C

20min: <140˚C

30min: <140˚C

40min: <140˚C

50min: <140˚C

60min: <140˚C

70min: <140˚C

80min: <140˚C

90min: <140˚C

100min: 190˚C

110min: 235˚C First signs of smoke

120min: >250˚ 

130min: >250˚ 

140min: >250˚ 

150min: >250˚ 

160min: >250˚ 

170min: >250˚ 

180min: Maxed out

190min: Maxed out

 

3 hours 45 minutes fire begins