Can steam be heated to the point in which the steel or iron container would reach it's melting point? I understand that the heat of the steam will increase with pressure, does it turn into plasma at some point?
2007-07-30 10:37:22 · 4 answers · asked by Charles B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
I don't think it melts easily, but I do think steam can react with iron at high temperature.
2007-07-30 10:46:19 · answer #1 · answered by Carborane 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Steam can be heated to any temperature above 100C, so it would be relatively easy to heat it to the melting point of iron or steel - as long as it was contained in a metal that had a higher melting point!
At incredibly high temeperatures the steam would break down into hydrogen and oxygen, but that would be much, much higher than the 1600C or so that is required.
2007-07-30 18:08:11 · answer #2 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Steam can be superheated to such a temperature but, what is going to hold the steam?
Wouldn't it be better to use the heat energy used to heat the steam directly on the metal to melt it ?
2007-07-30 17:50:33 · answer #3 · answered by Norrie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-07-30 17:44:47 · answer #4 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋