Heating Gasoline in a Microwave

I have a small one cup or so Stainless Thermos for my work lunch. It goes into the microwave daily. Hot soup and cool on the outside. No sparks to boot.

I do get the occasional "are you nuts?" look.

ven't actually tried this. =A0Metal cups don't heat up, though I have a sma= ll one cup or so Stainless Thermos for my work lunch. It goes into the micr= owave daily. Hot soup and cool on the outside. No sparks to boot. I do get = the occasional "are you nuts?" look.

So the soup heats up but the metal doesn't? Interesting. I need to look f= or a junk microwave and try this again. I've never had sparks unless the m= etal had corners or sharp edges.

A sealed container is not going to work. In microwaves, it's all about wavelength. If metal coincides with the proper length, it can form a short. Create effects. If it's not the correct length, it may not do anything. Try a 2.1 inch piece of foil, or 4.2 inch, vs a 2.6 inch.

A metal container with a 2.1 wide inch top, should allow the RF to energize the interior.

Greg

I'm inclined to think not.

Flash point for gasoline is - 50 F, but flash point is the temperature at which a spark or flame will ignite it.

Autoignition temperature is + 495 F, and I doubt we'll see that in a microwave.

But I'll let mythbusters test it.

which a spark or flame will ignite it.

good point. I didn't think the autoignition point would be so high.

Harry K

I had visions of doing a test. Already threw out microwave, I don't know the conductivity of gas or the vapors. With high RF field it may arc, but that does not happen to the water vapors. There might be some micro arc hot spots within the interior.

Greg

Would it even get hot? Metal can, No water present.

My thoughts exactly

haven't actually tried this. =A0Metal cups don't heat up, though I have a s= mall one cup or so Stainless Thermos for my work lunch. It goes into the mi= crowave daily. Hot soup and cool on the outside. No sparks to boot. I do ge= t the occasional "are you nuts?" look.

look for a junk microwave and try this again. =A0I've never had sparks unle= ss the metal had corners or sharp edges.

• If you put a chinaware plate/cup in with a "gold" rim, the rim will explode and chip the plate. Ist hand experience

If there is a small sliver of metal -- aluminum foil for instance -- in the microwave, it will heat up, melt, and arc.

I have seen this when heating something in old plastic jars that were sealed with metal foil. When the foil is peeled away, it leaves slivers of metal around the top rim of the jar. If the jar is later used for keeping things in the fridge, and put in the microwave for heating up later, the metal fringe arcs over. THAT would give the spark if the plastic jar were filled with gasoline instead. However, for an explosion, it would have to happen when the gas-air concentration was correct. Otherwise it would just start a fire.

Hint: When using these plastic jars, take a knife and scrape away all the metal traces on the top rim......

Anyway, just thought I would mention it......