combustion temperature of Iron?
combustion temperature of Iron?
(OP)
following is the answer from the Answers website:
Answer:
According to my (not metman) welding book. The ignition temperature of steel is 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (816 degrees Celsius).
metman's handbook of Chemistry and Physics gives m.p 1535C = 1535F; b.p 3000C = 5432F
Is it possible for the ignition temperature of Iron to be less than the boiling point and less than the melting point?
If this is not true, then what is the ignition temperature of Iron? I understand that %Carbon will affect the m.p/b.p/ignition temp but I am not trying to split hairs.
This question arises from my fellow worker who is a certified welder and said that one can start cutting steel plate with an Oxy-Acetylene torch and then turn off the Acetylene. The Oxygen alone will continue to cut the steel if everything is set-up perfectly.
Is it Carbon in the steel (cannot be Hydrogen in the air at 55 parts/million)that provides fuel for this to occur or is the steel actually burning so that the steel is the fuel?
Answer:
According to my (not metman) welding book. The ignition temperature of steel is 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (816 degrees Celsius).
metman's handbook of Chemistry and Physics gives m.p 1535C = 1535F; b.p 3000C = 5432F
Is it possible for the ignition temperature of Iron to be less than the boiling point and less than the melting point?
If this is not true, then what is the ignition temperature of Iron? I understand that %Carbon will affect the m.p/b.p/ignition temp but I am not trying to split hairs.
This question arises from my fellow worker who is a certified welder and said that one can start cutting steel plate with an Oxy-Acetylene torch and then turn off the Acetylene. The Oxygen alone will continue to cut the steel if everything is set-up perfectly.
Is it Carbon in the steel (cannot be Hydrogen in the air at 55 parts/million)that provides fuel for this to occur or is the steel actually burning so that the steel is the fuel?
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability





RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
I am not sure what you mean by the "ignition temperature".
Your welder friend is correct, however. When cutting steel with oxy-acetylene, once you start cutting, you don't need the acetylene. The oxidation of the iron is exothermic and produces enough heat to keep the reaction going.
By "keep the reaction going", I mean "melt the iron oxide so that the oxygen can react with the steel". The iron oxide will melt at a temperature below the melting point of the steel, so as you cut the steel, the molten iron oxide is blown off (by the force of the oxygen) and more iron is exposed, which oxidizes, releasing heat that is enough to both melt the iron oxide and heat the steel so that the process can continue.
rp
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
And yes this 1535C = 1535F was obviously a typo
1535C = 2795F
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
Actually burning metals is balance between thermodynamics, kinetics, heat transfer, and product form.
According to the Air Force Steel will burn in pure oxygen below its melting point (pure Fe at 930C) and steel will even burn in air at 1230C.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
There is plenty of good technical information on oxy-acetylene and oxy-fuel cutting of steel and effect of carbon content. I would suggest you look at ASM Handbook, Volume 6, Welding Brazing and Soldering. Under Oxyfuel gas cutting is a section on Principles of Operation. Read it and learn..................
By the way, carbon content will effect cutting rates using the above process. You can research this and find out why........,,
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
I saw a cutting torch used to salvage work, the fuel was diesel, they used some of it run an engine driven pump/compressor, and the rest in the torch, the cutting was done with compressed air. They were cutting 2" thick plate with it.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?
RE: combustion temperature of Iron?