Cappy
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Thermite-Iron Oxide Q
I've created some iron oxide by electrolysing some steel nails.
I need to know if there is a way to distinguish iron (II) oxide from iron (III) oxide or if they are mixed homogeniously.
I've heard that FeO is a black, while Fe2O3 is reddish brown. This would make sense, since a small amount of finer black powder was formed. It
still has the rust smell, and I think it was too much to be carbon from the steel.
Anyways, if the FeO and Fe2O3 are mixed, I need to know what the average ratios are.
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Madog
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maybe something like this hapened
2O2 + 3Fe --> FeO + Fe2O3
i doubt it was that organised though. i bet alot of the FeO colr was drowned out by the Fe2O3
Most people outgrow their pyro tendencies, we are the ones who\'s tendencies outgrew us.
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Cappy
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In order to calculate the stoichiometric ratio of aluminum to iron oxide, I will assume that it was 100% Fe2O3.
This is not 100% accurate, but I believe I lost most of the small amount of FeO created in titration (particles were so fine, that they did not settle
well).
After drying and crushing the powder to a flour-like fineness, it has a uniform color that is roughly light/medium brown.
Does anyone know if I will be able to crush aluminum powder? Will it just mash together into larger clumps since it is metallic?
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Darkfire
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Im not sure but id guess it to be high % Fe2O3, i thing reducing it to Fe2+ would take alot of energy but i could be mistaking.
CTR
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Mr. Wizard
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iron oxide source
Black iron oxide can be obtained from shops that use oxy-acetylene torches (and plasma cutters?) to cut steel sheets and bars. The slag is often free
if you will bring a few 5 gallon buckets, a shovel and offer to clean under the tables. It is good to mix with your mulch pile for the garden if your
soil lacks iron. Sift the slag through an aluminum window screen. Recycle the chunks through the screen after you break them up and remove the steel
chunks. Repeat until you have all the oxide broken up. Wear a mask and do it outdoors as it will be dusty and dirty.
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chemoleo
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the making of iron oxide
Just to point out,
iron oxice (Fe2O3) can be made very easily from common rust, or electrolysing iron in a slightly acidic solution. The resulting iron hydroxide/oxide
(red brown) then has to be washed, and DRIED at high temperatures, any kitchen oven should do.
Just the stuff you need for thermite  .
Dont worry about FeO, this is Fe2+ and gets oxidised rapidly in solution to Fe3+. Also, the black iron oxide you can buy in certain stores is neither
FeO, nor Fe2O3, but a mixture i.e. FeO:Fe2O3. it is ferromagnetic as far as i remember. Probably can be used for thermite, but havn't tried
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blip
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I remember calculating Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>'s enthalpy of formation and it being larger than that of the sum of
FeO's and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>'s.
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JJ
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alum. powder
alum. powder has to be ground not crushed. it may be better to start with a very fine powder like air milled ect...
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