Reply #109: Re:

[LARED]

The chart I was referring to is an elemental analysis. You do not require an reaction to liberate the Sulfur as the test determines the elements of the sample.

Your question is in regards to the eutectic corrosion found on steel beams, and how sulfur was liberated, causing the inter-granular corrosion. The simple answer is I'm not sure. The sulfur could have come from any number of sources in the rubble. One potential sources is gypsum. Yes, it's true that gypsum does not easily decompose to it reactants, but it is possible under the right conditions.

In literature I have reviewed gypsum does start to decompose at high temperatures. At least 1000 C. We know that temperature is close to temperature seen in the WTC debris pile. We also know that the underground fire lasted for weeks. This is important because reactions are always time dependant. Some reactions are very slow and some are very fast and lots are in the middle.

What this leads me to believe is that the gypsum is a real candidate as a sulfur source because we have high temps, and relatively long times for the reaction to take place.

BTW a link to the source in post would be helpful, as I has no idea where it came from.