What is "ferrocerium"

n. A pyrophoric alloy of iron and cerium that is used to make the flints for cigarette lighters

n. a pyrophoric alloy of iron with cerium; used for lighter flints

Ferrocerium is a man-made metallic material that produces hot sparks at temperatures of about when scraped against a rough surface ( pyrophoricity), such as ridged steel. Because of this property it is used in many applications, such as clockwork toys, strikers for gas welding and cutting torches, so-called "flint-and-steel" or " flint spark lighter" fire-starters in emergency survival kits and cigarette lighters, as the initial ignition source for the primary fuel. It is also commonly called ferro rod and most commonly of all, flint (particularly in cigarette lighters).