This invention relates to improved methods for making a composite heat source comprising carbon and metal species. The composite heat source made by the methods of this invention have ignition temperatures that are substantially lower than carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time provide sufficient heat to release a flavored aerosol from a flavor bed for inhalation by the smoker. Upon combustion, the heat source produces substantially no carbon monoxide. The metal species may be prepared by mixing a metal oxide, metal and a carbon source, pre-forming the metal oxide/metal/carbon source mixture into a shape and converting the mixture to metal species in situ, without substantially altering the original shape of the mixture.

Manufacturing of composite heat sources containing carbon and metal species

This invention relates to a heat source comprising a mixture of metal carbide, metal nitride and metal which undergo a staged ignition process, particularly useful in smoking articles. The metal carbide/metal nitride/metal mixtures making up the heat source have ignition temperatures that are substantially lower than conventional carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time provide sufficient heat to release a flavored aerosol from a flavor bed for inhalation by the smoker. Upon combustion the heat source produces substantially no carbon monoxide or nitrogen oxides.

Composite heat source comprising metal carbide, metal nitride and metal

A novel process for the conversion of reactor feed to iron carbide is provided. The process includes the step of preheating the reactor feed in a kiln (106), in an oxidizing atmosphere (104). The iron carbide produced by the process is particularly useful in the production of steel.

Process for Preheating Iron-Containing Reactor Feed Prior to Being Treated in a Fluidized Bed Reactor

A method of controlling product quality in a conversion of reactor feed to an iron carbide-containing product in a fluidized bed reactor (16). A Mossbauer analysis is performed (18) on product samples leaving the fluidized bed reactor (16), and a regression analysis is performed on the Mossbauer data. Depending upon the results of the regression analysis, process parameters are adjusted in order to obtain a product having a desired composition. Adjustments are made to the temperature and pressure in the fluidized bed reactor, rate of feed (12) to the fluidized bed reactor (16), and the composition of the process gas which reacts with the reactor feed in the fluidized bed reactor (16), dependent upon the analysis results.

Process for controlling the product quality in the conversion of reactor feed into iron carbide

A process for controlling the conversion of reactor feed to iron carbide is disclosed. The reactor feed is subjected to a process gas in a fluidized bed reactor (10), and measurements (56) are taken of individual gases in the off-gas from this reaction and the temperature (64) and pressure (66). A stability phase diagram is generated based on the temperature. Different regions of the stability phase diagram are representative of different products being formed by the conversion of the reactor feed. Based on concentrations of the individual gases in the off-gas and the total pressure, a point is plotted on the stability phase diagram indicative of the favored reaction product. The process parameters can then be adjusted to insure that iron carbide can be produced from the reactor feed based on the stability phase diagram.

Method for controlling the conversion of iron-containing reactor feed into iron carbide

Essentially pure iron carbide in high yield is prepared by reducing iron oxide in the presence of carbon monoxide at temperatures in the range of 500°-550°C.

Billy J Le Roy

Papers

Preparation of iron carbide (fe3c)