Max-Plank Society December 2, 2022
The combustion of iron powders seems very promising for stable and high-density energy storage technology. To better understand their in-process morphological and microstructural evolution an international team of researchers (Germany, the Netherlands) investigated two iron powder combustion pathways, one in air and one with the assistance of a propane pilot flame. Both processes resulted in spherical hollow particles composed of a complex microstructure of wüstite, magnetite and/or hematite. They observed nanoparticles on the micro-sized combustion products which indicated partial evaporation. According to the researchers the associated gas production inside the liquid droplet could be the origin of the internal porosity and micro-explosion events. Cracking at the end of the combustion process resulted in mostly open porosity, which was favorable for the subsequent reduction process. Their study provides better understanding of the underlying microscopic thermodynamic, kinetic, microstructural, and thermomechanical mechanisms…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Graphical abstract. Credit: Acta Materialia Volume 239, 15 October 2022, 18261