Study identifies low-cost metals for cookstoves with promising resistance to corrosion
A newly-published study demonstrates early promise for more durable and cost-efficient metals compared to metals available on the market. Compared to ceramics and clay, metal as a material for cookstoves offers increased ability to control stove design for higher performance and improved quality control for manufacturing. However, metals can also be less durable and more expensive.
The study, conducted by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Colorado State University, and Envirofit International, and supported by the US Department of Energy, investigated low-cost metal alloys to find options with durability and resistance to corrosion that would be suitable for the harsh environment of a cookstove combustion chamber. The researchers developed a protocol for accelerated corrosion testing of metals and evaluated multiple metal alloy “recipes.”
The results show that an iron-chromium-silicon base alloy has potential for better corrosion resistance and is also more affordable than current alloys used in stoves. The researchers will also be providing their data and corrosion test methods to support research and development efforts to encourage cookstove manufacturers to design more durable and better-performing alloy cookstoves for the nearly 3 billion people using open fire cookstoves around the world.
Access the full study here.