Under which conditions; (scale layer, powder/particle size, temperature, pressure, etc.) can iron oxide (Feo, Fe2O3, Fe3O4) absorb water, and how much water can it hold ?
Does it just physically absorb water, which then becomes vapour above 100C?
Iron oxides aren't particularly good at absorbing water. It is a purely physical process based on available surface area...Wustite, hematite, and magnetite do not have water's of hydration so there is no chemical absorption. You may have some better absorption with the crystal phase transition into the oxyhydroxides though. FeO(OH) (4 types, lepidocrocite and goethite I know off hand...the third akaganéite...is rather rare...meteorite weathering..and feroxyhyte (reverts to goethite in non bottom of the ocean conditions)) Limonite is a hydrated oxyhydroxide...may find some interest in that. Ferrihydrite is another hydrated oxide that forms normally as a metabolite in certain iron loving bacteria.
I suspect they would lose all absorbed water at 100*C
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