Adding Carbon to Thermite?

Question

A few years ago I tried burning thermite with my grandpa and it worked well, however the iron we got wasn't pure at all, making it impossible to forge. I would like to try again, and I think the way to do that is to add activated carbon. The chemical formula for regular thermite was 2Al + Fe2O3 -> Al2O3 + 2Fe + Heat and Light. This time, I think adding activated carbon would make the Fe more refined into steel, however I'm not sure what the chemical formula would be and what the ratio should be? Would the carbon mix with the oxygen instead of the iron? What would the chemical formula be? Thank you!

Answer 1

First of all, activated carbon IS NOT CH₄. The molecule CH₄ is methane gas. This will have no positive effect on your attempted thermite experiment with the possible exception of catching on fire.