kipinät

Kipinät are small glowing particles produced when a hot object emits incandescence or when energy is released rapidly at a material’s surface. In Finnish, kipinä means a spark, and kipinät is its plural. The term is used across science, engineering, and daily life to refer to such transient luminous fragments.

Kipinät can form in several ways: by friction or impact between hard materials (for example, metal against metal or a grinder), by rapid heating of metal fragments during cutting or welding, or by electrical discharge, such as from arcs in welding equipment or from switches and faults. They may also originate from combustion, such as a flame producing glowing particles.

Most kipinät are small and short-lived, typically a fraction of a millimeter to a few millimeters in size, and they glow bright orange to yellow. Their color and persistence depend on temperature and material. Their presence indicates high energy release at the surface, often accompanied by heat and possibly a risk of ignition.

In safety and industry, sparking is a potential fire hazard. Sparks can ignite flammable vapors, liquids, or dust, or ignite materials on contact. Preventive measures include controlling ignition sources, using protective shields, wearing eye and skin protection, proper ventilation, and housekeeping to reduce combustible dust.

In culture and language, kipinät are used metaphorically to describe a first sign of interest or enthusiasm. The concept also appears in devices designed to generate sparks, such as spark plugs and ignition systems.