X-Message-Number: 4761
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
From:  (Marvin Minsky)
Subject: Re: Cold Start
Message-ID: <>
References: <409tes$>
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 1995 23:36:40 GMT


In article <409tes$> Ralph Merkle <> 
writes:
>    surrounded by tissue at ~140 Kelvins could be heated to the ignition
>    temperature of the 2H2 + O2 reaction and maintained at that temperature
>    despite the flow of heat out of the pellet.  Perhaps someone would be
>    kind enough to propose an ignition mechanism and perform the necessary
>    thermal calculations.  H2 + F2 is a reaction that proceeds spontaneously
>    at any temperature down to (if memory serves) 20 Kelvins.

Yes, 2H2 + O2 is a fine, non-toxic reaction, and I believe that it can
be catalyzed at modest temperatures by various metals, notably
platinum, which is rather nontoxic itself.  

Actually I'm not sure about what temperature these reaction will start
at. I bet you could soon find out with a message to sci.chemistry.


Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4761