High-Temperature Reaction Rates of Several Metals with Hydrogen Chloride and Water Vapor

Abstract

An experimental study has been made of the high‐temperature reaction rates of various metal filaments with and vapors and mixtures of the two. Measurements were made by an electrical method in which the change in resistance of the metal filament was related to the loss in pure metal due to the vapor‐metal reaction. Measurable reaction rates were determined for both nickel and iron in a temperature range from 1000° to 1600°K. Specific reaction rate constants and apparent activation energies are presented. The reaction rates of tungsten with vapor were measured in a temperature range from 1600° to 2000°K. The reaction rates of chromium, Inconel, stainless, steel 18‐8, and tungsten did not proceed at a measurable rate in either pure or in mixtures of and . Nickel, copper, Inconel, and stainless steel 18‐8 did not react appreciably with water vapor at temperatures approaching the melting points. The reaction rates for iron in pure varied from 0.03 to 0.04% area loss per second over the temperature range investigated with an apparent activation energy of 10.5 kcal/mole. The reaction rates of iron in mixtures of and varied from 0.08 to 0.17% area loss per second in the same temperature range with an apparent activation energy of 8.5 kcal/mole. Reaction rates of nickel in pure varied from 0.005 to 0.03% area loss per second in the temperature range of 1000° to 1600°K with an apparent activation energy of 13 kcal/mole. The reaction rates of nickel in the and mixtures varied from 0.004 to 0.03% area loss per second in the same temperature range with an apparent activation energy of 22 kcal/mole below 1300°K and 13 kcal/mole above this temperature. Reaction rates of iron in vapor varied from 0.002 to 0.05% area loss per second from 1120° to 1415°K with an activation energy of 28 kcal/mole. Reaction rates of tungsten in vapor varied from 0.02 to 0.03% area loss per second from 1700° to 2000°K with an activation energy of 14.5 kcal/mole.