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Chemistry modification of high oxygen-carbon powder by plasma melting: Follow up to complete the story

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/650296· OSTI ID:650296
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
  2. Cabot Performance Materials (United States)
State of the art melting of tantalum and tantalum alloys has relied on electron beam (EB) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR) for commercial ingot production. Plasma arc melting (PAM) provides an alternative for melting tantalum that contains very high levels of interstitials where other melting techniques can not be applied. Previous work in this area centered on plasma arc melt quality and final interstitial content of tantalum feedstock containing excessive levels of interstitial impurities as a function of melt rate and plasma gas. This report is an expansion of this prior study and provides the findings from the analysis of second phase components observed in the microstructure of the PAM tantalum. In addition, results from subsequent EB melting trials of PAM tantalum are included.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
650296
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--97-4720; CONF-971168--; ON: DE98003370
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English