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

Fused salt process for purifying zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachlorides

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5226420

This patent describes a fused salt process for continuously purifying zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride dissolved in a molten bath in a vessel. It comprises: maintaining a mass of a suitable mixture of salts, including zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride; heating the mixture of salts to a temperature at or immediately below the vaporization temperature of the zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride at which temperature the mixture of salts is fused to form a molten, tetrachloride-dissolving bath; continuously introducing into the dissolving bath a zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride powder; heating a portion of the dissolving bath in situ to a temperature higher than the vaporization temperature of the zirconium and/or hafnium tetrachloride so as to vaporize the tetrachloride; internally circulating the dissolving bath whereby the portion of the dissolving bath at the high temperature circulate with the bath at the lower temperature.

Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5009866; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-437152
OSTI ID:
5226420
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English