Like the much broader field of corrosion science, high-temperature oxidation is often thought of as a traditional or mature field where the solutions to materials problems can be looked up in a text book or handbook and not much new ever happens. It is true that the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic framework for understanding high-temperature oxidation was largely developed in the mid-twentieth century by Carl Wagner. However, the constant push for higher-efficiency and lower-cost industrial processes typically involves higher temperatures and more aggressive environments. In fact, energy efficiency is one of the keys to realistically addressing greenhouse gas emissions like CO_2 in the next decade. By improving efficiency, less CO_2 would be produced per kWh of electricity generated and the "extra" power can help offset the parasitic losses from the processes needed to reduce emissions or sequester the reaction products. For example, about 50% of the electricity in the United States comes from burning coal. Increasing the maximum temperature in coal-fired boilers from the current U.S. fleet average of ~550°C to 760°C would increase the net plant efficiency from 32% to 46% (using the higher heating value). This change equates to a reduction in fuel use and emissions of 30-33%.
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