【Haichuan Chemical History】An interesting evolution history of Olympic torch fuel!
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The evolution of the Olympic torch fuel! Half of the events at the Paris Olympics have already taken place. Have you ever wondered what is burning in the Olympic torch this year? The torch is the instrument used for the Olympic flame relay; it consists of a burner and a fuel tank, and is one of the symbols of the Olympic Movement. Throughout history, the torch relay and the lighting of the Olympic flame have been important parts of the Olympics. The Olympic torch of each edition not only carries on traditions but also embodies the innovative ideas of the organizers. When we look back at the history of fuel used for the Olympic torch, we find that it is closely linked to the history of humanity’s exploration of energy sources. So what exactly is the fuel for the torch at these Olympics? What was the fuel for the torches in previous Olympic Games? What rules do they follow? Let’s take a look together.
Fossil fuels are the dominant theme. The Olympics originated in ancient Greece over two thousand years ago, and got its name from Olympia, where it is held. The Olympics were initially held as sacrifices to the gods and to showcase physical strength, and gradually evolved into an important event throughout Greece. Before the Olympics begin, the sacred flame is lit as a sign of respect for Prometheus (who stole fire for humanity). There was no torch relay at that time. When the race began, the torchbearer ran while holding the torch high, shouting, “Stop all wars and come to the sports event!” ” Since humanity was still in the age of firewood at that time, torches were made of sticks dipped in oil or tar.
The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. The torch for this edition is made of silver steel, with composite magnesium powder as its fuel. Magnesium powder is silver-white in color and is a metal with highly reactive chemical properties; it catches fire easily when exposed to water vapor, producing a bright white light and releasing a large amount of heat during combustion. The ability to make the flames brighter was also the reason why magnesium powder was chosen to be added at the Berlin Olympics. At the subsequent Olympics in London and Melbourne, magnesium powder was also added to the fuel of the torches. Due to its high reactivity, high cost, and unsatisfactory flame color, magnesium was gradually phased out over time. The 1948 London Olympics also created a special torch for the last torchbearer. From then on, a history of two types of Olympic torches began. The fuel for the torch is hexamine fuel tablets containing 6% naphthalene.
The 1948 London Olympics also created a special torch for the last torchbearer. From then on, a history of two types of Olympic torches began. The fuel for the torch is hexamine fuel tablets containing 6% naphthalene. Amines are actually a type of fuel that is widely used in the industrial and energy sectors. Among them, mixed amine fuels composed of aliphatic amines or aromatic amines with different grades can also be used as rocket fuel. This fuel is also not economical.
From the mid-20th century onward, the oil and gas industry experienced rapid development, and oil and gas energy began to become the main fuel for the Olympic torches. The fuel for the torch at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics was liquefied gas. Liquefied gas, whose full name is liquefied petroleum gas, is a colorless volatile liquid that is produced in refineries by pressurizing and cooling natural gas or oil; its main components are propane, butane, and other alkanes.