Iron Powder Research Articles

Regulation of Interface Compatibility and Performance in Soft Magnetic Composites with Inorganic Insulation Layers by FePO4 Intermediate Transition Layer

In the fabrication of soft magnetic composites, the lattice mismatch between the inorganic insulation layer and the iron matrix often leads to the formation of cracks during the molding process, which significantly impairs the operational performance of the materials. Consequently, it is imperative to develop novel strategies for inorganic insulation coatings that offer high electrical resistivity and thermal stability and are less susceptible to cracking during formation. This paper presents a new structure for soft magnetic composites that incorporates FePO4 as an intermediate transition layer between the iron-based soft magnetic particles and the inorganic ceramic insulation layer. This configuration is designed to provide insulation coatings with superior voltage and thermal resistance, as well as high electrical resistivity. The research details the processes forming the FePO4 intermediate transition layer and the SiO2 insulation layer on the iron powder surface, along with their interaction mechanisms. An analysis comparing the scenarios with and without the FePO4 intermediate transition layer shows its beneficial impact on the magnetic properties and mechanical strength of the soft magnetic composites. Further investigations reveal that at a phosphoric acid concentration of 1 wt.%, the FePO4 layer significantly enhances the interface compatibility between the Fe powder matrix and the SiO2 insulation layer. Under these conditions, the Fe@ FePO4/SiO2 soft magnetic composites demonstrate outstanding overall performance: the saturation magnetization stands at 215.60 emu/g, effective permeability at 83.2, resistivity at 57.42 Ω·m, power loss at 375.0 kW/m3 under 30 mT/100 kHz, and radial compressive strength at 15.95 Kgf. These findings offer novel insights and practical approaches for advancing inorganic insulation coating strategies and provide vital scientific support for further enhancing the magnetic and mechanical properties of soft magnetic composites.

Influence of impurities on the use of Fe-based powder as sustainable fuel.

Sustainable energy production, inherently transient and non-uniformly distributed around the world, requires the rapid development of sustainable energy storage technologies. Recently, pure iron powder was proposed as a high-energy density carrier. While promising, challenges are faced, such as nanoparticle emissions, micro-explosions or cavitation. In this work, a screening of the impact of the most common impurities in iron sources on these mechanisms was conducted through purely thermodynamic simulations. Two idealized models were considered to obtain a range of plausible flame temperatures and emitted gases when considering a purely diffusive regime in standard conditions and stoichiometric air-fuel mixture. The flame temperature and iron evaporation are increasing with the specific energy. A strong evaporation of C, S, Mo, Cu and P is also expected. Most impurities are predicted to decrease cavitation, except for Mn and MnO. The regeneration process by hydrogen-based direct reduction in fluidized bed reactors is also discussed. MgO and CaO are the most promising additions in terms of reducing nanoparticles and porosities, as well as to improve the fluidization and reduction kinetics of the combusted products. The potential of Fe powder as sustainable fuel, already very promising, could be further improved by the addition of selectively chosen impurities.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Sustainable metals: science and systems'.

Enhanced microwave absorption of sandwich panels with magnetized carbon fiber corrugated array reinforced PMI foam core

AbstractIntegrating periodic array structures made of metal wires or conductive inks into the foam core of electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing sandwich panels can significantly improve broadband absorption performance. However, the complex fabrication process and poor corrosion resistance of these materials limit their practical applications. This work innovatively introduces magnetized carbon fiber (CF) into PMI foam, simultaneously achieving broadband absorption and lightweight characteristics of the sandwich structure through the design of array structure and fiber bundle geometry. Simulation analysis compared the EM absorption performance of sandwich panels with carbonyl iron powder (CIP)/CF tape and helical twisted CIP/CF rope corrugated arrays, determining the optimal array structure parameters, which were then experimentally validated. The experimental results align with the simulations, showing that CIP/CF rope corrugated arrays with an amplitude of 10 mm, a cycle length of 15 mm, and an array spacing of 15 mm provide optimal absorption performance, with a reflection loss below −10 dB across the 9–18 GHz frequency range and a maximum absorption of −33.9 dB at 17 GHz. Finally, the absorption mechanism of these sandwich structures is discussed, highlighting how the synergistic effects between the electromagnetic properties and structural morphology of CIP/CF enhance the absorption performance of the EM absorbing sandwich panel.

Dephosphorization study on hydrogen reduction-melting separation of high-phosphorus oolitic hematite

In order to clarify the dephosphorization mechanism of DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) derived from hydrogen reduced high-phosphorus iron ore during the electric arc furnace melting process, slag was prepared using reagent-grade powder based on the gangue mineral composition of high-phosphorus oolitic hematite. By incorporating varying amounts of CaO, FeOx, and reduced iron powder, experiments simulating the dephosphorization of melting separation slag from DRI with different basicity and metallization rates were conducted at 1873 K. The results show that phosphorus in the iron primarily exists in the form of Fe-P-O spherical slag inclusions and FexP, while in the slag, phosphorus mainly resides within the silicate phases. As the amount of CaO added increases, there is a significant decrease in the phosphorus content within the slag inclusions, and the P-containing compounds in the iron gradually shift from FexP and Fe3(PO4)2 to FeO. As the dephosphorization capacity of the slag increases, the distribution of phosphorus-rich phases in the rapidly cooled slag becomes more extensive. When the basicity increases to 3, the phosphorus-rich phases in the slag transition to 2CaO·SiO2 and 3CaO·SiO2. When the basicity is fixed at 2.5, regulating the metallization rate can control the FeOx content in the melting slag, thereby enhancing the dephosphorization ability of slag. The results show that under conditions of a DRI basicity of 2.5 and a metallization rate of 85%, slag/metal separation can produce low-phosphorus iron with 0.022 wt% P, achieving a dephosphorization rate exceeding 95%.

Revealing the catalytic behavior of different types ZVI (powder Fe0, sponge Fe1, foam Fe2) in US/Fex/PDS and its effect on the dewaterability of waste activated sludge

The ultrasound (US) irradiation-coupled zero-valent iron (ZVI) activated persulfate system could improve dewatering performance, reduce WAS volume, decrease transport and final disposal costs. However, there are huge differences between various types of ZVI on activation efficiency, reaction mechanism, and application potential in WAS conditioning process. In this study, three ZVI (Fex) catalysts (Fe0 powder iron, Fe1 sponge iron and Fe2 foam iron) were used in the US/PDS system, whose catalytic performance and the fundamentals of the WAS conditioning were explored and compared. The results showed that the capillary suction time (CST) reduction rates were 89 %, 85 %, and 87 % in US/Fe0/PDS, US/Fe1/PDS, and US/Fe2/PDS, respectively, which indicated that the US/Fex/PDS system had an outstanding conditioning performance. The WAS reduction rate was US/Fe1/PDS > US/Fe2/PDS > US/Fe0/PDS attributed to Fe1 surface activate sites. Similarly, the organic matters characterization showed soluble protein content (PN), polysaccharide content (PS), and microbial by-products were significantly reduced in the US/Fe1/PDS system. Further examination of the thermodynamic parameters revealed that the WAS cohesive interfacial energy (ΔGslscoh) was minimally reduced to promote release of bound water in the system due to the effective regulation of intermolecular forces. In addition, examination of the trivalent iron/divalent iron ratio (Fe3+/Fe2+) to assess the efficacy of ferric ion recycling showed a significant advantage for US/Fe1/PDS system. On the basis of improving catalyst utilization, PDS produced SO4·- that dominated free radicals to condition WAS, improve dewaterability and achieve WAS reduction. Finally, evaluating laboratory WAS conditioning results and costs, US/Fe1/PDS system has potential applications value.

Experimental Simulation Studies on Non-Uniform Fluidization Characteristics of Two-Component Particles in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed

Taking the fluidized pre-reduction process of iron ore powder bubbling fluidized bed as the background, for the problem of non-uniform structure in the bed of gas-solid fluidization process, the non-uniform fluidization characteristics of bicomponent particles are investigated in a cold two-dimensional bubbling fluidized bed by using a combination of physical experiments and mathematical simulations. Fluidization experiments were carried out under typical working conditions by using glass beads to study the effects of apparent gas velocity, mass ratio, and other factors on the non-uniform structure in the bed. Through the experimental observation of the bubble behavior, the effect of the cyclic change in bubble formation, rise and growth to rupture on the bed uniformity were analyzed. The experiments showed that the fluidized bed of two-component particles would be stratified, and the non-uniformity was strong in the upper part and weak in the lower part, and the apparent gas velocity and particle size were the main influencing factors. Based on the Euler-Lagrange reference frame modeling, the fluidization process of the two-dimensional bubble bed was simulated by the CFD-DEM method. The simulations of typical experimental conditions were carried out to further analyze the velocity distribution and the volume ratio of each phase in the bed from the gas-solid interaction level, revealing that the velocity distribution in the upper part of the bed is not uniform, and the gas flow is strongly perturbed, with intense bubble aggregation. The results reveal the reasons for the non-uniform phenomenon of gas-solid fluidization, which can provide a theoretical basis for the regulation of the non-uniform structure of the fluidization process.

Experimental and Statistical Analysis of Iron Powder for Green Heat Production

In the current investigation, a novel methodology was employed to assess iron powder as a recyclable and sustainable energy carrier. Concurrently, an examination of the modeling of iron powder ignition and the ensuing heat output from the burner was undertaken. The flame temperature was determined by examining the light intensity emitted by the particles as they melted, which is directly related to the particle’s cross-sectional area. An account of the characterization of the experimental procedure, validation, and calibration is presented. Through measurements, distinct one-to-one correlations have been established between the scales of flame combustion and the temperatures of particles of varying sizes of iron. Additionally, a theoretical model for the combustion of expanding particles, particularly iron, within the diffusion-limited regime has been rigorously developed. This model delves into the spectra acquired from particle flames within the burner, utilizing Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This study investigates the use of optical fiber spectroscopy to predict flame temperature and assess iron powder size. The aim was to investigate how different sizes of iron powder affect flame temperature and to create calibration models for non-destructive prediction. The study shows that smaller particles had an average temperature of 1381 °C while larger particles reach up to 1842 °C, demonstrating the significant impact of particle size on combustion efficiency. The results were confirmed using advanced statistical methods, including PLSR and PCA, with PCA effectively differentiating between particle sizes and PLSR achieving an R2 value of 0.90 for the 30 µm particles.

Sustainable Processing of Ultralow-Cost Petroleum Cokes Into Ultrastable Self-Doped Fe3C@CNT Catalysts for High-Efficiency HER.

Petroleum cokes are largely used as low-cost anodes in aluminum industries and general fuels in cement industries, where large amounts of CO2 are generated. To reduce CO2 release, it is challenging to develop green strategies for processing abundant petroleum cokes into high-value products, because there are abundant hetero-atoms in petroleum cokes. To overcome such issues, a sustainable electrochemical approach is proposed to convert ultralow-cost high sulfur petroleum coke and iron powders into high-efficiency catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). During molten-salt electrolysis, raw petroleum cokes are converted into CNTs via heteroatom removal and the catalytic effect of Fe, forming Fe3C nanoparticles on the sulfur and nitrogen co-dopped carbon nanotubes (Fe3C@S, N-CNTs). The electrochemical reaction analysis using the continuum model suggested that the rate-determining step referred to the slow transport of mobile ions inside the porous cathode. Because the self-doped S and N atoms massively alleviated the energy barrier for H* absorption and H2 desorption (i.e., promoting HER kinetics), the as-prepared Fe3C@S, N-CNTs exhibited low overpotentials at 10mAcm-2 in acidic (96mV) and alkaline (106mV) solutions with ultralong-term duration (200h). This study offers a sustainable approach to convert ultralow-cost petroleum cokes into ultrastable catalysts for high-efficiency HER.

Photocatalysis coupled electro-Fenton process for treatment of acrylamide wastewater: an optimised study

ABSTRACT Electro-Fenton is a commonly used approach for pollutant removal from different wastewater that requires high energy consumption. Coupling electro-Fenton with solar energy could potentially overcome high power consumption. Thus, this study combined photocatalysis with three-dimensional electro-Fenton to treat acrylamide (AM) wastewater. The removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3−N), and total organic carbon (TOC) in photocatalysis-coupled electro-Fenton were studied. The effects of current density, iron powder dosage, plate spacing, and photocatalyst dosage on COD and NH3−N removal were also optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). The photocatalysis coupled three-dimensional electro-Fenton reduced energy consumption compared to single photocatalysis or electro-Fenton technology. The COD and NH3−N removal rates were 82.444% and 92.810%, respectively, at the current density of 16.000 mA/cm2, iron powder dosage of 1.330 g, plate spacing of 16.643 mm, photocatalyst dosage of 0.2 g. This study demonstrated that organic pollutants can be degraded efficiently at a low concentration of catalysts coupled with the electro-Fenton process, offering a low-energy consumption treatment of wastewater.

Development of High-Aspect-Ratio Soft Magnetic Microarrays for Magneto-Mechanical Actuation via Field-Induced Injection Molding

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are in demand in the field of high-tech microindustries and nanoindustries such as biomedical applications and soft robotics due to their exquisite magneto-sensitive response. Among various MRE applications, programmable actuators are emerging as promising soft robots because of their combined advantages of excellent flexibility and precise controllability in a magnetic system. Here, we present the development of magnetically programmable soft magnetic microarray actuators through field-induced injection molding using MREs, which consist of styrene-ethylene/butylene styrene (SEBS) elastomer and carbonyl iron powder (CIP). The ratio of the CIP/SEBS matrix was designed to maximize the CIP fraction based on a critical solids loading. Further, as part of the design of the magnetization distribution in micropillar arrays, the magnetorheological response of the molten composites was analyzed using the static and dynamic viscosity results for both the on and off magnetic states, which reflected the particle dipole interaction and subsequent particle alignment during the field-induced injection molding process. To develop a high-aspect-ratio soft magnetic microarray, X-ray lithography was applied to prepare the sacrificial molds with a height-to-width ratio of 10. The alignment of the CIP was designed to achieve a parallel magnetic direction along the micropillar columns, and consequently, the micropillar arrays successfully achieved the uniform and large bending actuation of up to approximately 81° with an applied magnetic field. This study suggests that the injection molding process offers a promising manufacturing approach to build a programmable soft magnetic microarray actuator.

Multifunctional ANF/ CNT/FCIP aerogels with superior sound and electromagnetic wave absorption and mechanical properties

Aerogels exhibit bright prospect for multifunctional applications in noise reduction, radar stealth, load bearing, etc. Existing aerogels however suffer from poor sound absorption at low frequencies, narrow-band electromagnetic wave absorption and low structural strength. Here, we propose a novel lightweight aerogel composed of aromatic polyamide nanofiber (ANF)/ carbon nanotubes (CNT)/ flake carbonyl iron powder (FCIP) to boost acoustic/electromagnetic absorption and mechanical performance simultaneously. The FCIP additives create surface roughness and enlarge the pore size of the aerogel. As a result of the enhanced viscous energy dissipation by surface roughness and better impedance match achieved due to the enlarged pores, sound absorption at low frequency is significantly improved. Besides, the electrically and magnetically conductive network generated by embedded FCIP brings about effective electromagnetic absorption covering the whole X-band. Moreover, the aerogels undergo an increase in skeleton thickness and pore size by FCIP, resulting in maximum compressive stress increment. Our study provides clear guidance for the performance enhancement of aerogels that advances the development of aerogels for multifunctional applications.

Anti-icing and de-icing properties of composite superhydrophobic coating with microwave heating performance on asphalt pavement

Severe icing on asphalt pavements significantly impacts traffic safety and efficiency. Superhydrophobic coatings exhibit excellent hydrophobic and anti-icing properties, making them suitable for asphalt pavements. However, the formation of dense and hard ice limits their anti-icing effectiveness in cold regions. Within this paper, we have developed a novel composite superhydrophobic coating (CSC) with microwave heating performance by constructing a hierarchical structure using carbon nanotubes and incorporating micron-sized iron powder as a primary microwave-absorbing material. Scanning electron microscopy, 3D confocal microscopy, and contact angle tests reveal that the optimally mixed CSC possesses a complex micro-nano hierarchical structure, superhydrophobic properties (contact angle of 155.4°), and excellent anti-icing properties. Microwave heating results show that the CSC achieves a maximum heating rate of 1.108 ℃/s and an energy utilization efficiency of 47 %, representing improvements of 118.1 % and 18.3 % compared to uncoated specimens. Durability tests indicate that after wear, the CSC's contact angle decreases by 6.2 %, and the microwave heating rate drops by 13.7 %. Despite these reductions, the coating still maintains high hydrophobicity and microwave heating performance. While the friction coefficient of CSC-coated pavement decreases to μ=0.63, it still meets regulatory requirements. Overall, the application of CSC can effectively increase de-icing efficiency and mitigate the adverse effects of ice and snow on pavements.

Pyramid-like magnetic carbon composites device toward tunable and adaptive radar-visible compatible properties

Equipped with intelligent adjustable electromagnetic-visible light compatibility characteristics is of significant importance in military stealth fields. In this work, a tunable microwave absorption and visible light change metamaterial based on polylactic acid (PLA) thermal stimulation was fabricated using 4D printing technology with hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTOH) and carbonyl iron powder (CIP) as active ingredients. The printing filament was synthesized, which exhibited excellent absorption performance with a bandwidth of 5.83 GHz and sufficient shape recovery ability. On this basis, a temperature-dominated shape memory variation cone device was also manufactured and the visible light color-changing coating was sprayed. The microwave absorption performance is adjusted according to the petal angle, achieving a bandwidth variation of 5.9–9.8 GHz. This work confirms the potential exploratory value of the designed shape memory polymer in the field of microwave absorption, and provides unlimited possibilities for designing intelligent controlled stealth materials.

Study on the electromagnetic wave absorption performance of dual-loss type composite MWCNT/CIP/GF/EP

Abstract The electromagnetic properties of single-loss glass fiber (GF) absorbing composites with the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) particles and single-loss glass fiber (GF) absorbing composites with the addition of carbonyl iron powder (CIP) particles in the X-band were studied. Using CST electromagnetic simulation combined with experiments, dual-loss multi-walled carbon nanotube/carbonyl iron powder/glass fiber/epoxy (MWCNT/CIP/GF/EP) resin absorbing composites were designed and prepared. The effects of thickness ratio and periodic layering on the absorbing properties of dual-loss glass fiber absorbing composites were investigated. The results show that by changing the thickness ratio and periodic layering, the impedance matching and attenuation characteristics of the dual-loss glass fiber absorbing composites can be altered, thereby affecting the overall absorbing performance. The optimal group exhibited a maximum reflection loss of -55.3 dB at 8.5 GHz, with an effective absorption bandwidth of 3.0 GHz, covering 71.4% of the X-band.

Fabrication of ultra-high strength MWCNTs/CI /PI rigid composite foam with excellent microwave absorption performance by pressure foaming method

Polyimide (PI) foam exhibits excellent high-temperature resistance and outstanding physical and chemical stability, making it an ideal matrix for absorbing materials. However, the growing demand for absorbing materials that can serve as load-bearing components has revealed that existing polyimide composite foams often fall short of practical application requirements due to their low mechanical properties. The study employed a simple foaming method using isocyanate-based polyimide as the foam base under a 0.2 MPa atm. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbonyl iron (CI) powder were added sequentially to the precursor solution. Under the filling parameters of 2.0 % MWCNTs and 10 % CI powder, the compressive strength of polyimide composite foam reaches 16.2 MPa and exhibits excellent microwave absorption properties, with a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −62.51 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 7.86 GHz. Additionally, the prepared composite foam has potential infrared stealth capability. This work offers new insights for rapid and low-cost manufacturing of high-strength absorbing foam.

ОЦЕНКА ВЛИЯНИЯ РЕЖИМОВ ШЛИФОВАНИЯ НА ШЕРОХОВАТОСТЬ ПЛАЗМЕННЫХ ПОКРЫТИЙ

The equipment for laboratory tests during grinding of plasma coatings is presented. The results of the study of the influence of the modes of mechanical treatment with an abrasive tool on the quality of the surface of plasma coatings are presented. Three materials were applied to the surfaces - based on iron, nickel and self-fluxing powder for plasma spraying, with their subsequent grinding and study of the surface quality.

Preparation of CIP@Fe3O4 particles and their impact on the fenton reaction processing performance of single-crystal SiC

This study proposes the preparation of CIP@Fe3O4 composite magnetic particles, which maintain excellent magnetic properties while exhibiting superior Fenton reaction performance for the magnetorheological chemical polishing of single-crystal SiC. The CIP@Fe3O4 particles were prepared by coating a nanoscale layer of Fe3O4 onto micron-sized carbonyl iron powder (CIP) using the co-precipitation method. Their Fenton reaction performance and magnetic properties were characterized, and CIP@Fe3O4 was used as a solid-phase catalyst in Fenton reaction-induced etching, frictional wear, and polishing experiments on single-crystal SiC. The prepared CIP@Fe3O4 particles have a saturation magnetization of 184.3 emu/g, representing only an 8.7 % reduction compared to CIP, yet achieved a decolorization rate of 76.2 % for the methyl orange indicator (compared to only 17.2 % with CIP alone). The Fenton reaction using CIP@Fe3O4 resulted in a prominent corrosion layer on the surface of single-crystal SiC, with the oxygen atomic fraction reaching 22.15 %. The study examined material removal from SiC under Fenton reactions with different solid-phase catalysts: CIP, CIP@Fe3O4, and CIP + Fe3O4. Frictional wear results indicated that the maximum scratch cross-sectional removal area on the SiC surface under the Fenton reaction with CIP@Fe3O4 was 474.38 μm2, representing a 207.3 % increase compared to without the Fenton reaction. Additionally, Si-O compounds were identified in the debris. Polishing experiments showed that the material removal rate (MRR) with the Fenton reaction was 3295 nm/h, an increase of 220.2 % compared to without the Fenton reaction, and the surface roughness was reduced to Ra 0.895 nm, a 73.4 % reduction compared to without the Fenton reaction. This study provides additional evidence for the application of magnetorheological technology and the Fenton reaction in the polishing field of single-crystal SiC.

Experimental Study on Proportion Optimization of Rock-like Materials Based on Genetic Algorithm Inversion.

It is very important to clarify the optimization method of the rock-like material ratio for accurately characterizing mechanical properties similar to the original rock. In order to explore the optimal ratio of rock-like materials in gneissic granite, the water-paste ratio, iron powder content and coarse sand content were selected as the influencing factors of the ratio. An orthogonal test design and sensitivity analysis of variance were used to obtain the significant influencing factors of the ratio factors on seven macroscopic mechanical parameters, including compressive strength σc, tensile strength σt, shear strength τf, elastic modulus E, Poisson's ratio ν, internal friction angle φ and cohesion c. A multivariate linear regression equation was constructed to obtain the quantitative relationship between the significant ratio factors and the macroscopic mechanical parameters. Finally, a rock-like material ratio optimization program based on genetic algorithm inversion was written. The results show that the water-paste ratio had extremely significant effects on σc, σt, τf, E, ν and c. The iron powder content had a highly significant effect on σc, σt, τf and c, and it had a significant effect on ν and φ. Coarse sand content had a significant effect on σc, E and c. The multiple linear regression model has good reliability after testing, which can provide theoretical support for predicting the macroscopic mechanical parameters of rock-like materials to a certain extent. After testing, the ratio optimization program works well. When the water-paste ratio is 0.5325, the iron powder content is 3.975% and the coarse sand content is 15.967%, it is the optimal ratio of rock-like materials.

Efficient Extraction and Separation of Scandium from Scandium-Bearing Solid Waste and Acid by Synergistically Leaching Followed by Solvent Extraction.

The solid waste and waste acid generated during the production of titanium dioxide contain considerable amount of scandium, which are valuable secondary resources. In this study, the titanium dioxide waste acid was used to leach the scandium-containing solid waste, and the leached solution was pretreated for iron removal by reduction-crystallization process. After that, scandium was recovered from the leached solution by using the P204-TBP co-extraction system. The process parameters were investigated systematically. The results showed that iron powder reduction-crystallization for iron removal at molar ratio of Fe:Fe3+ = 0.25 was most suitable for subsequent extraction, and the scandium extraction efficiency could reach 100% using 15% P204-5% TBP at 25 °C with A/O = 8. This study provided a novel process for treating scandium-bearing solid waste with scandium-bearing waste acid, showing great potential for industrial application.

Microwave healing properties and moisture sensitivity of asphalt mixture containing iron powder filler

Through experimental tests, this paper investigated the effectiveness of microwave healing on asphalt mixtures containing iron powder (IP) filler to improve durability and enhance mechanical properties. The moisture sensitivity of the asphalt mixes with varying iron powder filler contents was measured using the modified Lottman test. For evaluating the asphalt mixture healing ability, two complementary methods were used: the fatigue-based method, derived from the ability of microwave healing of asphalt mixture samples damaged up to 50% level of indirect tensile fatigue (ITF), and the fracture-based method, obtained from the strength recovery rate of broken semi-circular samples by applying consecutive breaking-healing cycles. The results showed that the greater the quantity of iron powder filler in the asphalt sample, the greater the sample’s indirect tensile strength and TSR ratio, indicating that IP had a positive effect on moisture sensitivity. The findings also indicated that utilizing iron powder as a filler positively strengthens the fatigue life, increases the toughness, and increases the microwave healing indices (both fatigue and failure approaches). Finally, according to the study results, substituting 70% iron powder as the filler is the most suitable option for improving the mechanical and self-healing characteristics of asphalt mixes.