The Cellar  

Go Back   The Cellar > Main > Current Events
FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Current Events Help understand the world by talking about things happening in it

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-23-2009, 12:00 PM   #1
glatt
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 27,717
Useless trivia:

The skin of the Hindenburg is what actually caught fire. When it was burning enough that it ruptured, it released the hydrogen, and the hydrogen ignited at that point, way up high in the sky above the burning blimp shell.

The common belief that a hydrogen blimp was inherently dangerous because of what happened on the Hindenburg was disproved in the early 1990s when scientists reexamined what was known about that accident. If I recall correctly, it was some sort of coating on the skin that made it flammable. Hydrogen is actually less flammable than gasoline. 932F versus 536F
glatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2009, 12:08 PM   #2
TheMercenary
“Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo”
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Posts: 21,393
Quote:
Originally Posted by glatt View Post
Useless trivia:

The skin of the Hindenburg is what actually caught fire. When it was burning enough that it ruptured, it released the hydrogen, and the hydrogen ignited at that point, way up high in the sky above the burning blimp shell.

The common belief that a hydrogen blimp was inherently dangerous because of what happened on the Hindenburg was disproved in the early 1990s when scientists reexamined what was known about that accident. If I recall correctly, it was some sort of coating on the skin that made it flammable. Hydrogen is actually less flammable than gasoline. 932F versus 536F
Thanks glatt. Very interesting. I didn't know that factoid. I will need to read some more about it.
__________________
Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!
TheMercenary is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2009, 12:01 AM   #3
xoxoxoBruce
The future is unwritten
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
Quote:
Originally Posted by glatt View Post
Useless trivia:

The skin of the Hindenburg is what actually caught fire. When it was burning enough that it ruptured, it released the hydrogen, and the hydrogen ignited at that point, way up high in the sky above the burning blimp shell.

The common belief that a hydrogen blimp was inherently dangerous because of what happened on the Hindenburg was disproved in the early 1990s when scientists reexamined what was known about that accident. If I recall correctly, it was some sort of coating on the skin that made it flammable. Hydrogen is actually less flammable than gasoline. 932F versus 536F
Addison Bain's theory about the Iron oxide, aluminum, and cellulose nitrate coating on the skin causing the fire doesn't jibe with the eywitness or newsreel accounts. For one thing it wasn't cellulose nitrate, it was really cellulose acetate butyrate which will burn but is not flammable. Although Bain cause a sensation when he proposed his theory, it has not stood up to peer review as conclusive.

Quote:
So in crash there is a potential explosion?
I've seen the aftermath of a mere 300psi air tank that failed and flattened a cement block building.
__________________
The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.
xoxoxoBruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:12 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.