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The Kopp-Etchells Effect (2012)
- Sharlin 4y agoMy first guess was triboluminescence, but yeah, pyrophoricity sounds very plausible as well.
- qwertyuiop_ 4y agoThe Kopp-Etchells effect was first documented during combat operations in Afghanistan. The photographer Michael Yon named the effect after two soldiers who died there, Koop, a US Ranger, and Etchells, a British soldier. Both were killed in combat in this province of Afghanistan. Props to the photographer for naming the effect after the soldiers who lost their lives.
- hanoz 4y agoPity the article has been getting Kopp's name wrong without correction for the last 10 years though, despite containing several other changes suggested by the photographer.
- AlbertCory 4y agoThe movie scene writes itself: (the scene: a firebase in Afghanistan. A platoon of weary grunts are landing in a chopper, returning from a tough mission) Marine A: Did you guys notice that halo around the rotors when the chopper took off, after we landed at the site? B: No, douchebag, we were checking our weapons again. A: That's called the Kopp-Etchells effect. B: You're going to explain it to us, aren't you? A: You see, the leading edge of the blades has titanium on it, so ... B: (chopper lands) Well, here we are! Looking forward to hearing all about this, next mission, douchebag.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- zokier 4y agoThe spontaneous combustion part here feels bit weird; I imagine the phenomenon is more like when you hit metal with angle grinder and sparks fly out, where the abrasive action heats the particles up to ignition point. At least I wouldn't call that very spontaneous.
- lupire 4y agoThe author's claim is that the powdered metal oxidizes, not directly abraded. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrophoricity https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrophoricity