Re: USAGE: YAEUT: "Molten" vs. "Melted"

On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 2:00 PM, Aidan Grey <taalenmaple@...> wrote:
> I could be wrong, by my first thought is that "molten" is only used if that is
> a normal / common state for the substance. Molten lava, molten iron, molten
> plastic (i.e. before it is molded or formed). Obviously, manufacturing is the
> most common context in which "molten" is used. It also seems to be only used
> with mass nouns
If you call something "molten", to me that connotes that it is, at the
time under discussion, very, very hot.  Something that is "melted"
might not be all that hot; water is not "molten ice". It might not
even be currently in liquid form; for instance, a puddle on the bottom
of the dishwasher that used to be a spatula can still be called
"melted plastic" long after it has cooled and congealed (and therefore
become a royal pain to clean up).  But "molten" requires high heat.
Even extruded plastic is at least 475K (200C, 400F) at the "molten"
stage.

--
Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>