What Temperature Does Burning Start?

The temperature at which burning starts is known as the autoignition temperature, which is the lowest temperature at which a substance will spontaneously ignite in a normal atmosphere without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark. This is distinct from a flash point, which is the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to form a flammable mixture with air near the surface, or a fire point, which is the temperature at which a substance will continue to burn after ignition.

For different materials, the autoignition temperature varies significantly based on their chemical composition and reactivity with oxygen.

Autoignition Temperatures of Common Substances

Here are the autoignition temperatures for various materials:

Understanding autoignition temperatures is crucial in industrial safety, material handling, and fire prevention, as it helps in designing storage conditions and processes to prevent spontaneous combustion.