Melting pot paradox
This is something that has dumbfounded me for some time. I assume that I am misunderstanding something, and would like if someone could set me straight. The paradox is what/how are melting pots made. As I understand it, each type of mineral has a specific melting point at which it becomes liquid or molten. In order to reach this point, it must be heated. In order to heat it, it must be contained in an object that has a higher melting point than the mineral within it. Otherwise, the container (melting pot) would melt along with it’s contents. The issue is that in order for the melting pot to be created, it too had to be heated to its melting point so that it could be shaped/molded. Thus begins the infinite regress of melting pots made out of materials with ascending melting points.
Comments (3)
Try this: the insulating properties of a sand as a mold? Some sand melts and stick to the surface of molded pot but probably can be sanded off.
Edit: Oh but you have to pour the molten stuff into the mold... Hmmmm.
What if you took two nesting clay pots and then lined the interior gap with whatever the metal feedstock is, then put it in a kiln?
Maybe if can devise a way to direct heat into a vessel that is lined with a well insulated ceramic wall, it could work, depending on what you want to melt. Then there is also pounding a semi fluid metal on a stone into desired shape.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucible
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/melting-temperature-metals-d_860.html
Check the temperatures of the metals against the capabilities of the different types of crucibles.