THERMODYNAMIC ASPECTS OF OXIDES REDUCING BY ALUMINUM AND TITANIUM AT THE THERMIT WELDING OF RAILS

Abstract

During aluminothermic welding of rails, formation of aluminum oxides can take place, which become centers of residual stresses forming resulting in cracks formation followed by fracture and destruction of the welding joint. It was proposed to add titanium scrap in the form of preliminary made powders to the welding thermites composition. At the replacement of aluminum by titanium, titanium oxides formation takes place providing higher resistance against cracks formation. Comparative estimation of thermodynamic properties [∆rH°(T), ∆rG°(T)] of thermite reactions with aluminum and titanium in the systems metal oxide – aluminum and metal oxide – titanium under standard conditions presented. As reaction components for calculation of thermodynamic properties, oxides of iron, manganese, silicon and chrome were used. Thermodynamic analysis of 6 reactions with aluminum and 30 reactions with titanium were carried out. It was established that all the reactions under consideration are thermodynamically probable. However, reactions of both aluminum and titanium with iron oxides had the highest probability and correspondently the highest heat generation. Reducing of silicon oxide had the lowest probability and correspondently the lowest heat generation. The reaction with oxides of manganese and chrome had an intermediate position. By the reducing ability titanium is not worse than aluminum and in reactions with iron oxide even exceeds it, particularly in the temperature range over 2000 K. Enthalpies of reducing reactions of iron oxide by titanium is in the same area of values as the enthalpies of reaction of reducing by aluminum. A thermodynamic analysis showed that application of titanium as a reducing agent at the thermit welding is quite acceptable along with aluminum.