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Is using hydrogen for that an actual process or just an idea? There's the problem that hydrogen can make metals brittle, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydr
by _Microft 7y ago
Is using hydrogen for that an actual process or just an idea?
There's the problem that hydrogen can make metals brittle, see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement
- semi-extrinsic 7y agoTo answer the spirit of your question: yes, replacing carbon containing reducing agents in metal foundries etc is very much something that is being developed.
- philipkglass 7y agoIt's an actual process. The ability of hydrogen to reduce hot iron oxides to metallic iron has been known at least since the early 19th century. But it has not been done on an industrial scale before because using fossil fuels is cheaper, and reducing GHG emissions has not been a significant priority until recently. EDIT: Joseph Priestley actually discovered that iron oxide ("calx of iron") could be reduced to the metallic state by hot hydrogen ("inflammable air") in the late 18th century. https://archive.org/details/b22281824/page/n57 https://archive.org/details/b22281824/page/n57
- _Microft 7y agoThanks!
- garmaine 7y agoIt’s how pure silicon is made today for the transistors in the device you are reading this on.