SEDL / STP / STP1319-EB / STP12057S

Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Burning Iron

Wilson, DB
C.E.S. Consulting, Mesilla Park, New Mexico

Steinberg, TA
University of Queensland, Brisbane,

Stoltzfus, JM
NASA White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Pages: 18    Published: Jan 1997

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Abstract

Macroscopic kinetic analysis of the burning of 0.1 and 0.2-cm-diameter iron rods in pure oxygen at pressures between 0.3 MPa and 10 MPa, and 0.32-cm- diameter iron rods in pure oxygen at pressures between 0.3 MPa and 5 MPa indicates that the kinetic reaction occurs at the phase boundary between the molten oxide product and the liquid iron core. An apparent activation energy of 246.8 kJ/mol Fe(l) is consistent with this analysis. The surface area of the liquid oxide/liquid iron phase-boundary is appropriate for describing the reaction. An enthalpy of reaction of -365.2 kJ/mol Fe(l) at 298K is consistent for the burning of iron. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood- Hougen-Watson mechanism is consistent with the flammability data for iron. In the linear range of that mechanism an appropriate rate equation is: R^Fe = 7.05E3exp(-2.9684E4/T)P^o21/2gm cm^-2s^-1