Thermite consists of a mixture of powdered metal and a metal oxide. When ignited it results in an exothermic oxidation-reduction reaction that is intensely hot. It may be associated with a number of hazards.
Examples of thermite mixtures:
(1) metal powder: usually aluminum
(2) metal oxide: iron oxide, copper oxide, lead oxide, boron oxide, chromium oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide
Hazards of thermite:
(1) intense heat (able to melt metal)
(2) difficult to control (very difficult to put out once started)
(3) spread of molten metal
(4) fire
(5) gas released from ignited materials
(6) retinal damage from intense light
(7) steam explosion if water poured on the reactants
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