METHOD OF PRODUCING IRON CARBIDE

摘要

A method for producing iron carbide by bringing iron ore into contact with a reducing gas containing hydrogen and a carbon compound at a specified reaction temperature to reduce and carburize the iron ore with the participation of a sulfur component, the method includes measuring the reaction temperature, partial pressure P(H2) of the hydrogen and partial pressure P(H2S) of hydrogen sulfide contained in the reducing gas, calculating sulfur activity as in the reducing gas from equation (1) shown below, and adjusting the partial pressure P(H2S) of the hydrogen sulfide in the reducing gas to obtain as = 1.0 to 2.0 at reaction temperatures of 550.degree.C and above but less than 650.degree.C, as = 0.7 to 2.0 at 650.degree.C, and as = 0.05 to 1.0 at over 650.degree.C and up to 950.degree.C: as = (P(H2S)/P(H2))/(P(H2S)/P(H2))E (1) where (P(H2S)/P(H2)) represents the ratio between the partial pressures of H2S and H2 in the reducing gas and (P(H2S)/P(H2))E is the ratio between the partial pressures of H2S and H2 in a condition where the reaction of equation (2) below is in equilibrium: FeS(s) + H2(g) = Fe(s) + H2S(g) (2) where (s) and (g) represent solid and gaseous phases, respectively.