Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

An Unusual Form of Carbon

Abstract

IN the course of experimental work on the deposition of carbon in the brickwork of blast furnaces (deposition which may cause the disintegration of the bricks), it has been found by electron micrography that the carbon is deposited as minute vermicular growths which can penetrate considerable thicknesses of brickwork. The carbon is formed by the interaction of carbon monoxide and iron oxide in the so-called iron-spots in the brick. It has been found possible to reproduce this reaction in the laboratory by exposing samples of brick containing iron spots to the action of carbon monoxide at an optimum temperature of about 450° C. Moreover, a similar form of carbon growth is observed if iron ore, magnetite or any form of iron oxide is substituted for the brick samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

DAVIS, W., SLAWSON, R. & RIGBY, G. An Unusual Form of Carbon. Nature 171, 756 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171756a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171756a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing