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ORGANIZER;CN=ESTAD 2023:mailto:info@metec-estad.com
LOCATION:Room 14a
SUMMARY:Synthesis of FeNi alloys by direct reduction of Fe2O3-NiO powder mixtures using hydrogen
DESCRIPTION:Ferronickel (FeNi) alloys are widely used to manufacture stainless and heat-resistant steels. They are also used as an alternative binder in tools, replacing Ferro-Cobalt. Typically, FeNi alloys and alloy powders are produced by processes that use carbon as a reductant and emit large volumes of greenhouse gases. In the current work, FeNi alloy powders with varying compositions were produced by directly reducing Fe2O3-NiO powder mixtures using hydrogen to replace carbon as the reductant. This could prevent millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year in Sweden alone, and reduce energy consumption significantly. The mixtures of Fe2O3 and NiO powders were directly reduced using hydrogen in a horizontal tube furnace in which the products were analysed using a gas analyser based on photoacoustic spectroscopy. The preliminary results from the gas analyser indicated that the mixtures reduced completely at a temperature of 700°C within 45 minutes. This was confirmed using X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The XRD data revealed the absence of oxides in the reduced powders and the presence of a single solid phase: gamma (FCC) or two solid phases: alpha (BCC) and gamma (FCC), depending on the ratio of the iron and nickel oxide powders in the initial mixture. Analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in a scanning electron microscope showed that the average composition of a mixture of oxide powders that contained a mass ratio of 78 wt% iron and 22 wt% nickel was 85 wt% iron and 15 wt% nickel. This is promising enough to justify further investigation. Successful application of these results could replace traditional pyrometallurgical processes with a clean, lower-energy production route and thereby save large amounts of carbon emissions and energy.
CLASS:PUBLIC
DTSTART:20230615T102000
DTEND:20230615T104000
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