Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A REVIEW OF THE EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY OF NIOBIUM

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4178405· OSTI ID:4178405
BS>The preparation of niobium was attempted by a number of chemical and electrochemical routes. Chemical reduction of oxides and halides such as Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/, K/sub 2/NbOF/sub 5/, K/sub 2/NbF/sub 7/, and NbCl/sub 5/ was conducted with varying degrees of success. Aqueous electrochemical reduction has not yet yielded a metallic deposit. The electrolysis of molten baths containing K/sub 2/NbOF/sub 5/ or K/sub 2/NbF/sub 7/ produced niobium metal. The more promising methods of preparation for Nb metal at the present time include the reaction of Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ with C, the H/sub 2/ and active metal reduction of NbC1/sub 5/, and electrolysis of K/sub 2/NbF/sub 7/- NaC1 melts. (auth)
Research Organization:
Horizons, Inc., Cleveland
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-14-017847
OSTI ID:
4178405
Report Number(s):
TID-6100
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English