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Title: VAPOR PHASE CARBOTHERMIC REDUCTIONS OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE IN THE HIGH INTENSITY ARC. Technical Note No. 6

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4286401

A laboratory investigation of the vapor-phase reduction of magnesium oxide was carried out in the tail flame of a d-c high intensity arc. Thermcdynamic considerations were used to predict an approximate temperaturedependence for the homogeneous reaction, MgO + C -Mg + CO, indicating this reaction goes to completion above l800 C. Since the lowest recorded temperature in the flame was ~2000 C, it was assumed that the flame consisted predominantly of reaction products. This was verified by spectrographic observation. The positioning of a water-cooled, copper quench plate fer prcduct sampling was fixed by considerations of heat flux and flame temperature as determined spectrographically. For 5/8-inch diameter anodes, containing slightly greater than a stoichiometric fraction of carbon, a 7 kw arc operating in 0.1 atm. of nitrogen yielded a prcduct representing 64% reduction of the oxide with an equivalent power consumption of 8.2 kwh/lb of metal. It was concluded that the reaction was a homogeneous one and that the high intensaty arc technique offers interesting possibilities in the carbothermic reduction of stable metal oxide?. (auth)

Research Organization:
Vitro Labs., West Orange, N.J.
DOE Contract Number:
AF18(603)-3
NSA Number:
NSA-13-003980
OSTI ID:
4286401
Report Number(s):
AD; AFOSR-TN-58-498; KLX-10116
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English