unossidazione

Unossidazione is a term sometimes used to refer to processes that remove oxygen from a system or reduce the oxidation state of a substance. In Italian, the more standard terms are deossidazione, desossidazione or deoxidation. The concept spans several fields, including metallurgy, chemistry and materials science, and generally denotes a shift away from oxygen-containing forms or higher oxidation states.

In metallurgy and materials engineering, deoxidation describes the removal of oxygen from molten metals or alloys to improve cleanliness, mechanical properties and stability. This is typically achieved by adding specific deoxidizing elements (such as aluminum, silicon, calcium or magnesium) that bind oxygen to form stable oxides, which can then be removed or isolated. Vacuum treatment and degassing are also used to reduce dissolved oxygen in liquids and metals.

In chemistry, deoxidation or desoxygenation refers to reactions that remove oxygen atoms or reduce the oxidation state of a molecule. This can involve hydrogenation, reductive methods or other reagents that cleave oxygen-containing groups (for example carbonyl or hydroxyl groups) and convert them to lower-oxidation-state products.

In materials science and electronics, controlling oxygen content is crucial to prevent corrosion, improve dielectric or optical properties, or increase shelf life. In industrial practice, deoxidants and controlled atmospheres are employed to limit unwanted oxidation.

Note that unossidazione is not a widely standardized term in Italian technical literature; when precision is required, it is preferable to use deossidazione, desossidazione or deoxidation depending on the context. See also ossidazione, riduzione, deoxidation.