In this study, the reduction kinetics and behaviors of oxides in the water-atomized iron powder have been evaluated as a function of temperature ranging 850-1000°C in hydrogen environment, and compared to the reduction behaviors of individual iron oxides including Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄ and FeO. The water-atomized iron powder contained a significant amount of iron oxides, mainly Fe₃O₄ and FeO, which were formed as a partially-continuous surface layer and an inner inclusion. During hydrogen reduction, a significant weight loss in the iron powder occurred in the initial stage of 10 min by the reduction of surface oxides, and then further reduction underwent slowly with increasing time. A higher temperature in the hydrogen reduction promoted a high purity of iron powder, but no significant change in the reduction occurred above 950°C. Sequence reduction process by an alternating environment of hydrogen and inert gases effectively removed the oxide scale in the iron powder, which lowered reduction temperature and/or shortened reduction time.

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• Carbon Co-Deposition During Gas Reduction of Water-Atomized Fe-Cr-Mo Powder
  B. Ali, S.H. Choi, S.J. Seo, D.Y. Maeng, C.G. Lee, T.S. Kim, K.T. Park
  Archives of Metallurgy and Materials.2017; 62(2): 1119.     CrossRef