CARBON GASIFICATION IN A HYDROGEN GLOW-DISCHARGE PLASMA

1. A study has been made of the gasifications of carbon in hydrogen plasmas at temperatures ranging from 550 to 900°C. The kinetic curves covering this temperature range are anomolous, the reaction rate decreasing as the temperature rises. 2. Diamond does not react with the hydrogen plasma at 3.2 torr pressure and temperatures up to 500°C. The depth of penetration of the graphite gasification reaction into the powder layer is no more than 1 mm at particle diameters in the 100-125 μm range. 3. Treatment of graphite in the hydrogen plasma reduces both the gasification rate and the amount of the amorphous forms of the element in the surface layer. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.