Laser induced oxidation processes in iron, copper and nickel nanopowders

The present paper is devoted to the study of oxidation processes occurring in iron, copper and nickel nanopowders under the action of CO₂ laser radiation. It was established that two different phases of iron oxide (magnetite and hematite) are stabilized in the oxidation products of the iron nanopowder suggested to laser radiation whereas the non-irradiated nanopowder contains the hematite phase only. The phase composition of the oxidation products are the same for both the irradiated and non-irradiated copper nanopowders, but their morphology is different. The thermal behavior of the Ni irradiated nanopowder differs from that of the non- irradiated one: it is characterized by an additional exothermal peak at 276 °C.