Post by EpicToaster1 on Aug 22, 2019 23:03:42 GMT -5
You've probably been wondering what the heck Staol is. I've been getting a lot of questions about it (sometimes repeats) and so I figured I'd compile a quick overview of what Staol is.
Basic Overview:
The word Staol (pronounced stohl) is a derivation of STAR COAL, though was really the best name given to me while I was creating this. Prior to this, it was just given the running names of "Dust" and "Star Dust". It is a crystalline substance, though flakes easily, giving it a similar feeling to sawdust. It is a metallic orange in color, and has a light glow to it that gets stronger the more concentrated the material is (meaning in large concentrations it can easily be seen). The material has a cubic structure at the molecular level. Staol has a higher burning temperature than coal, and due to its chemical composition, is cleaner than coal and oil.
(Left to Right) Crystalline Staol, Powdered Staol, Staol under high-power electron microscope
[TECHNICAL]
Staol is comprised of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Iron. The Carbon and Hydrogen give it its burnable properties while the Iron gives it its characteristic orange color. The chemical equation is as follows:
4 FeC2H2 + 13 O2 ⟶ 2 Fe2O3 + 8 CO2 + 4 H2O
There is an intermittent step in which hydrogen gas briefly exists, which is what gives the compound its ability to burn hotter (burning at 3950°F instead of 3,500°F in a forge). Because of the rust, it does require rust traps to catch it, but that only makes there be a small attachment below the firebox or combustion engine to catch the rust. Because of the higher temperatures, it does allow for the engine to apply more power and thus make the vehicle faster.
[END TECHNICAL]
Q&A
Q: Is Staol flammable?
A: Yes, otherwise it wouldn't be the main fuel source.
Q: Is Staol explosive?
A: The solid itself is not, but if the powder is able to build up in the air, it can become an explosive by the shear fact that powder / dust does become an easy to burn state.
Q: Why is Staol the driving force if only one country really owns it?
A: All resources are in some respects similar to that. They all to some degree start in one place and become popular before other nations finally realize that they have it. Also, periodic meteors tend to hit similar areas when they pass, hence periodic.
Q: Does it glow?
A: Yes, as stated, it glows the more concentrated the material. So a solid will glow brighter than the dust.
Q: Can it be used in chemical warfare?
A: Not really. While it's very flammable, the material itself isn't toxic. The metallic dust is sharp, but that's only in large quantities. Unless you are dumping an entire train car of staol on someone, it won't be enough.