Metallurgy Question - Unrelated to Razors

I work in a machine shop. They just put signs on the scrap bins saying that steel chips and iron chips can't go in the same bin due to fire hazard.

Isn't steel just iron with carbon in it? I don't see how that could possibly be a fire hazard.
Will the carbon cause a flare up if the steel is smelted with iron?

I would not put it past management to put up a sign about a fire hazard when the real motive may have something to do with steel chips having a higher scrap value, and mixed chips selling for less.

I'll bet your assumption about scrap prices is right on. Only thing that I can think of being flammable is the cutting oils used with the scraps.

interesting,ask the boss.
Most shops today use water based cutting fluids.

Cast iron has a lot of carbon it, steel has a less. I do not see a hazard by combining the two. Maybe they were thinking not mixing cast iron with aluminum, that could make a thermite like reaction.

Charlie

What Charlie and scott said.
I suspect it has to do with scrap value, and indeed, you don't want to mix aluminium and steel / iron scrap in large quantities. Should it for some reason ignite, you will have a big problem.

Yep, powdered aluminum is a major component for solid rocket fuel!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

Yep, powdered aluminum is a major component for solid rocket fuel!

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And fireworks, and thermite. :)