I was thinking, cuz i kno that if u get a tree hot, it burns. But what if you heated it up in a vaccuum, theres no oxygen so it cudnt combust, but the heat energy is still being applied. I want liquid tree!!!
Poll: Is it possible to melt a tree?
- Thread starter Dangernick42
- Start date
actually it would explode before it ever melted, the sap gets too hot and the pressure blows the tree apart
Wood is made of lignin. That's a very firm, fibrous material.
A molecule this big won't melt. (Just look at it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignin)
You can however break it down into a combustible liquid, under extreme temperatures and pressure.
They sometimes use this as biofuel.
A molecule this big won't melt. (Just look at it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignin)
You can however break it down into a combustible liquid, under extreme temperatures and pressure.
They sometimes use this as biofuel.
That should look like this,Dangernick42 said:
I was thinking, 'cause I know that if you get a tree hot, it burns. But what if you heated it up in a vacuum, there's no oxygen so it couldn't combust, but the heat energy is still being applied. I want liquid tree!!!
Sorry internet speak is one of my pet peeves.
Anyways, on topic. Yeah I thought about this before, and yes you could. In fact any biological matter burns with enough energy in the presence of oxygen. So theoretically if you removed the oxygen it could not burn. And all matter has solid liquid and gas states so if you get it hot enough it should melt.
If you melt something, it becomes liquid. Liquids can't exist in a vacuum.Dangernick42 said:
I don't think a tree would melt anyway.. wouldn't the molecules just disintegrate at those extreme temperatures into smaller molecules/atoms?
Uh it really depend on the circumstances.
Like some post above if the vacuum is applied continuously, i.e. any gas is removed from the chamber instantly at all time, you'll be left with essentially carbon, which does melt at high enough temperature.
On the other hand, tree may contain as much as 50 percent water, more in some parts of the tree (like leaves or fruits). In high enough temperature water can be break down to oxygen and hydrogen which would burn with the remaining carbon compound.
All in all, can you melt a tree? The answer would be yes, but it wouldn't be a tree anymore.
It's kind of like the question about the color inside of a brick.
Like some post above if the vacuum is applied continuously, i.e. any gas is removed from the chamber instantly at all time, you'll be left with essentially carbon, which does melt at high enough temperature.
On the other hand, tree may contain as much as 50 percent water, more in some parts of the tree (like leaves or fruits). In high enough temperature water can be break down to oxygen and hydrogen which would burn with the remaining carbon compound.
All in all, can you melt a tree? The answer would be yes, but it wouldn't be a tree anymore.
It's kind of like the question about the color inside of a brick.
Or you can just drop the tree in a blender. If you can blend it really fine, it'll be essentially melted. After all being melted is just that molecules are able to move around freely.
It astounds me that scientists somewhere have not wasted valuable grant money in researching this great mystery - there's too much emphasis on trivialities like cancer and such. I want shit to melt!
I personally don't think it'd melt - I wish I had a more competent grasp of biological lingo so that my forthcoming reasoning would sound a tad more "intellectual", but I suppose this will have to do: wood is big and sturdy - big and sturdy things don't tend to melt. Can I get an amen?
I personally don't think it'd melt - I wish I had a more competent grasp of biological lingo so that my forthcoming reasoning would sound a tad more "intellectual", but I suppose this will have to do: wood is big and sturdy - big and sturdy things don't tend to melt. Can I get an amen?
My chem knowledge sucks, but what if, in stead of using a vacuum, you'd just replace the air with some inert gas or something?Thedutchjelle said:
From what I know, there is something called wood welding, where wood (mainly lignin and loose fibers on the surface) is melted by friction in order to bond wood together. Thereby eliminating the need for glue. The bonds while strong aren't water resistant, so interior only I suppose.
But, if what I've read is correct, then yes, wood can indeed melt, and with friction no less. Which means I can melt a tree with enough frictional force. Won't be long now before I finally rid my yard of all the trees.
But, if what I've read is correct, then yes, wood can indeed melt, and with friction no less. Which means I can melt a tree with enough frictional force. Won't be long now before I finally rid my yard of all the trees.