A non-contaminating method for preparing intra-rare-earth alloys containing volatile and non-volatile metals

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6025669

Beaudry, B J; Laabs, F C

The preparation of alloys containing one to two percent of the volatile lanthanide metals Sm, Eu, Tm and Yb in the high melting point (HMP) rare earth metals Sc, Y and Lu was accomplished by a vapor deposition, diffusion method without crucible contamination. The method avoids the melting of the HMP metals which would introduce impurities from the crucible generally Ta or W. Plates of the HMP metals were hung from the lid in the upper part of the Ta crucible. The volatile metals were placed on the bottom and the lid welded in place under an atmosphere of helium. By proper selection of the alloying temperature, the effusion of the metal vapors through the helium atmosphere was slow enough to permit diffusion to occur and prevent refluxing of the newly formed alloy. Very volatile metals such as Mg required a Knudsen cells with a suitably size hole to prevent too rapid transfer of the low melting metal. Electron microprobe analysis of a cross-section of the HMP metals showed a homogeneous distribution of the volatile metals. The time and temperature required to obtain a homogeneous rare earth alloy without contamination are given. The use of the Knudsen cell to form magnesium-rare earth alloys is reviewed. 8 refs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 6025669
• Report Number(s): IS-M-672; CONF-920305-1; ON: DE92000524
• Resource Relation: Conference: Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) annual meeting and exhibition, San Diego, CA (United States), 1-5 Mar 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
LUTETIUM ALLOYS
SYNTHESIS
SCANDIUM ALLOYS
YTTRIUM ALLOYS
DIFFUSION
EUROPIUM ALLOYS
MELTING POINTS
SAMARIUM ALLOYS
SOLUTES
SOLVENTS
TERBIUM ALLOYS
VAPOR PRESSURE
YTTERBIUM ALLOYS
ALLOYS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
360101* - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication