IRON CARBIDE SYNTHESIS BY REACTION OF IRON-ORE WITH H-2-CH4 GAS-MIXTURES CONTAINING TRACES OF SULFUR

Particles of hematite ores in a porcelain boat were reacted at 873 sim ilar to 1273 K by H-2-CH4 mixtures having low sulfur activities as bas ed on Fe/FeS equilibrium where metallic iron remained stable. In the t ests without sulfur, much free carbon appeared beside metallic iron an d iron carbide. The free carbon increased with temperatures. In the te sts with sulfur, nearly one hour reaction could convert their particle s mostly to iron carbide such as Fe3C, especially favorable in a(S)=0. 1 similar to 1.0 at 1173 similar to 1223 K. The conversion yield was s ensitive to inlet flow volume ratio H-2/CH4 and ore type, while the au thors' previous test in H-2-CO gas mixtures had already indicated thei r insensitivity.