What is the catalyst in a three-way catalytic converter?
2 Answers
Catalyst is composed of metals platinum, rhodium, and palladium. Spraying one of these onto a carrier forms the catalyst. Below are some details about the three-way catalytic converter: 1. Its shape resembles two wine bottle bottoms stuck together, with relevant parameters often marked on the surface. 2. The color is bright white with a metallic luster, which may fade or develop bluish and purplish spots over time due to usage. 3. It measures approximately 20cm in size. It functions to convert HC and CO in exhaust gases into water and CO2 while decomposing NOx into nitrogen and oxygen. The carrier component is a porous ceramic material coated with precious metals such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium.
I remember that in the three-way catalytic converter, the most crucial catalyst is a coating composed of three precious metals: platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Platinum is primarily responsible for catalyzing oxidation reactions, converting carbon monoxide in the exhaust into carbon dioxide. Palladium excels at handling hydrocarbons, ensuring more complete combustion. Meanwhile, rhodium is tasked with reducing nitrogen oxides, turning them into harmless nitrogen gas. These metals are uniformly distributed on the ceramic honeycomb structure, where they activate chemical reactions at high temperatures to reduce pollutant emissions. I think the advancements in automotive environmental technology are truly remarkable. If these metals in the converter fail, emissions could exceed standards and potentially trigger a malfunction indicator light. Rhodium is relatively rare, and rarity increases value, which is why catalytic converters tend to be expensive. Regular inspection of the exhaust system is crucial for maintenance.
