The characterization of nickel metal pore structures and the measurement of intrinsic reaction rate during the reduction of nickel oxide in H 2–N 2 and H 2–H 2O atmospheres

Abstract

An alternative experimental technique for the investigation of the reduction of dense synthetic NiO in H 2–N 2 and H 2–H 2O gas mixtures at high temperature has been developed. This technique enables the nickel product pore structures to be accurately characterized and the intrinsic reaction rates to be measured. A number of distinctly different nickel product microstructures, originating at the Ni–NiO interface were observed. The formation of these microstructures was found to be a function of temperature, gas composition and reaction time.