Ferrocerium

Ferrocerium (also known in Europe as Auermetall) is a synthetic pyrophoric alloy of mischmetal (cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, other trace lanthanides and some iron – about 95% lanthanides and 5% iron) hardened by blending in oxides of iron and/or magnesium. When struck with a harder material, friction produces hot fragments that oxidize rapidly when exposed to the oxygen in the air, producing sparks that can reach temperatures of 3,315 °C (6,000 °F). The effect is due to the low ignition temperature of cerium, between 150 and 180 °C (302 and 356 °F). Ferrocerium has many commercial applications, such as the ignition source for cigarette or cigar lighters, strikers for gas welding and cutting torches, deoxidization in metallurgy, and ferrocerium rods. Because of ferrocerium's ability to ignite in adverse conditions, rods of ferrocerium (also called ferro rods, spark rods, and flint-spark-lighters) are commonly used as an emergency firelighting device in survival kits. The ferrocerium is referred to as a "flint" in this case, as both are used in fire lighting. However, ferrocerium and natural flint have opposite mechanical operation.