Application of Conversion Electron Mossbauer Spectroscopy to the study of carbon deposition on iron

Abstract Carbon deposits were formed on iron foils by the catalytic decomposition of an acetone-carbon dioxide mixture. These deposits were studied by Conversion Electron Mossbauer Spectroscopy and weight change measurements. The results indicate that wustite (FeO) catalyses the carbon deposition process and cementite (Fe 3 C) plays a role in forming carbon filaments by disseminating the wustite. A mechanism is proposed for carbon deposition in this system.