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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

REFRACTORY METAL PRODUCTION PROCESS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4216457

A process for producing such metals as Ti, Nb, Zr, Hf, V, and Ta is offered which involves twc-stage reduction of a halide. An apparatus consisting of a reaction vessel with an upper and a lower feed nozzle is also described. In one example of the process, 97 lb of Na liquid is raised to 400 deg C in the reactor in an Ar atmosphere and 416 lb of TiCl/sub /4 are added by injection at 3 to 20 ft/sec from the top. During this injection the temperature is raised to 850 deg C. Then 105 lb of Na are injected at the bottom at 6 ft/sec, the temperature being maintained at 850 to 950 deg C for 2 hr after this addition. Liquid NaCl is then drained and the resulting Ti sponge washed with water. The product was exceptionally pure, containing less than 0.5l% O/sub 2/, 0.3% N/sub 2/ , and 0.10% Cl. (T.R.H.)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-14-004528
OSTI ID:
4216457
Report Number(s):
GB 824298
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English