[Chaz]

Question: What is the approximate temperature produced when a solid substance such as (iron powder) is burned in an atmosphere of pure oxygen not in confinement or under pressure. Is the temperature produced near the boiling point of the substance? The reason I'm interested in this information is that in the welding industry to cut stainless steel, cast iron and even reinforced concrete a metal powder is often injected into the oxygen stream of an oxyacetylene torch to produce high localized temperatures to melt or vaporize theses substances to make cutting easier. Would a material such as powdered graphite or tungsten produce higher temperatures, both these substances have very high boiling points?

 In relation to the first question an alternate method of cutting difficult materials is (chemical flux injection). In this case a reactive substance such as sodium carbonate is injected into the oxygen stream of a cutting torch to react with the material being cut.
Question: Would a more reactive substance like K2co3 or Rb2co3 have stronger fluxing action or would the differences be negligible.