Intermetallic compounds
AssigneeCambridge Enterprise Limited
InventorsDerek John Fray, Robert Charles Copcutt, George Zheng Chen
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Abstract
A method for the production of an intermetallic compound (M1Z) involves treating a solid precursor material comprising three or more species, including first and second metal or metalloid species (M1, Z) and a non-metal species (X), by electro-deoxidation in contact with a melt comprising a fused salt (M2Y) under conditions whereby the non-metal species dissolves in the melt. The first and second metal or metalloid species form an intermetallic compound. The method is performed in a cell comprising a cathode of the precursor material (2), which is immersed in a melt (8) contained in a crucible (6) for electro-deoxidation.
Claims23
A method for the production of an intermetallic compound (M1Z) comprising:
- treating a solid precursor material comprising three or more species, including first and second metals or metalloids (M1,Z) and a non-metal species (X), by electro-deoxidation in contact with a melt comprising a fused salt (M2Y) under conditions whereby the non-metal species dissolves in the melt.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the precursor material is a conductor and is used as the cathode.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which electrolysis is carried out at a temperature of 700° C.-1000° C.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the electrolysis product (M2X) is more stable than the precursor material or the first compound.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the fused salt comprises Ca, Ba, Li, Cs and/or Sr.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the fused salt comprises Cl, F and/or SO4.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the non-metal species comprises O, S, C and/or N.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the non-metal species comprises O and/or S.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the precursor material comprises a compound incorporating the anion CO3, SO4, NO2 and/or NO3.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the first metal or metalloid comprises Ti, Si, Ge, Zr, Hf, Sm, U, Al, Mg, Nd, Mo, Cr or Nb, any other lanthanide or any other actinide.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the second metal or metalloid comprises C, B, Si or Al.
A method according to any preceding claim, in which the electro-deoxidation is carried out under conditions whereby the cathodic voltage applied to the precursor material is less than the voltage for deposition of a cation (M2) from the fused salt at the cathode surface or, if the melt comprises a mixture of salts, less than the voltage for deposition of any cation (M2) from the melt at the cathode surface.
A method for the production of an intermetallic compound (M1Z) comprising:
- treating a mixture of a solid compound (M1X), comprising a metal or metalloid (M1) and a non-metal species (X), and a solid substance (S), by electro-deoxidation in contact with a melt comprising a fused salt (M2Y) under conditions whereby the non-metal species dissolves in the melt.
An intermetallic compound produced using a method as defined in any preceding claim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.