Copper oxide reduction by combined reducers under the combustion mode

The process of copper oxide (CuO) reduction under the combustion mode was studied. A new class of so-called combined reducers (CR) was used which represent solid organic compounds of the C-H-N type. Thermodynamic calculations of combustion in the Cuo-CR system were performed. On their basis proper experiments were carried out, revealing that reducing conditions (combustion temperature and velocity) and conversion degree for copper oxide may be controlled by changing the type and amount of the reducer, inert gas pressure, etc. The main factors determining phase composition and microstructure of formed combustion products were established. A possible mechanism of the reduction process during propagation of a combustion wave in the CuO-CR system was suggested based on the researches carried out and their comparison with literature data. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.