wüstite Chem.
(ˈvʊstaɪt)
Also wustite.
[ad. G. wüstit (R. Schenck et al. 1927, in Zeitschr. f. anorg. Chemie CLXVI. 141), f. the name of F. Wüst, German metallurgist: see -ite1.]
An isometric solid solution of magnetite (Fe3O4) in iron oxide (FeO).
| 1928 Chem. Abstr. XXII. 566 The existence of 2 solid solns. is shown: (1) a soln. of small quantities of Fe3O4 in FeO for which the name ‘Wüstite’ is coined, [etc.]. 1957 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. CLXXXVII. 78/1 The gradient of the iron content of these layers was determined, and the wüstite composition at the iron-wüstite and wüstite-magnetite phase boundaries was used to define the wüstite area. 1977 Nature 6 Oct. 500/1 There are few reports on the direct reduction of wustite by carbon according to an autocatalytic mechanism. 1980 Ibid. 30 Oct. 778/1 The extraterrestrial nature of a specific spherule can be confirmed if it contains wüstite—a metastable iron oxide formed at high temperatures and low oxygen partial pressures. Wüstite slowly decomposes into α-iron and magnetite..and is thus almost unknown in nature. |