Synthesis and characterization of metallic materials for membrane technology

AbstractPowder of metallic materials composed of Fe, Ni was proposed for membrane applications such as microfiltration devices. The powder was synthesized using thermal route of simultaneously sintering–reduction techniques. The resulting powder has specific porous structure and can be deposited on steel substrate. The formed phases were identified by X-ray phase analysis. The produced powder was characterized by reflected light microscope and scanning electron microscope along with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The reduction behavior of metal oxides was followed up by thermogravimetric techniques. The kinetics data obtained from reduction process were used to elucidate the reduction mechanism under isothermal condition. The microstructure changes accompanying sintering–reduction processes were investigated under different experimental parameters such as temperature, holding time and gas composition. The results show that pure Fe0.64Ni0.36 with relatively high porosity can be fabricated via reduction route. The presence of NiO plays a significant role in the reduction of iron oxide as well as in the structural changes accompanying the reduction processes. The particle size distribution of the produced metallic materials is being controlled under the different operation conditions to get a homogenous porous metallic structure with well defined porosity. The main advantage of using porous ferroalloy materials is their narrow size distribution leading to a well defined pore size distribution after sintering and reduction

Characteristics and applications of iron oxide reduction processes

The present review handles the main characteristics of iron oxide reduction and its industrial applications. The reduction of iron oxide is the basis of all ironmaking processes, whether in a blast furnace or by direct reduction and/or direct smelting processes. The reduction characteristics of iron ores control the efficiency of any ironmaking process and the quality of the produced iron as well. Many controlling parameters should be considered when discussing the reducibility of iron ores such as equilibrium phase diagrams, reduction temperature, pressure, gas composition, and the nature of both iron ores and reducing agent. The different factors affecting the main routes of ironmaking will be highlighted in the present review to give a clear picture of each technology. Moreover, further innovations regarding the reduction of iron oxides such as the reduction by green hydrogen will be discussed