Deoxidation of titanium and similar metals using a deoxidant in a molten metal carrier
AssigneeRMI Corporation
InventorRichard L. Fisher
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Abstract
Process for deoxidizing refractory metals such as titanium which contain less than about one percent oxygen. The process described includes heating a liquid metal deoxidant contained in a liquid metal carrier to treat the oxidized metal. After removing the carrier and cooling, the metal is leached to result in a treated metal with lower residual oxygen. In a preferred embodiment, titanium alloy powders are deoxidized with calcium in a sodium carrier.
Claims18
A process for the deoxidation of an oxidized refractory metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and alloys comprising these metals, the process comprising:
- (a) combining in an inert, dry atmosphere the oxidized refractory metal, wherein the oxidized metal contains less than about one weight percent oxygen, with a mixture of metallic deoxidant contained in a molten metal carrier having a lower melting point than the deoxidant, to form a combination;
- (b) heating the combination at a temperature which is sufficient to liquify the deoxidant and for a time sufficient to at least partially deoxidize the refractory metal;
- (c) removing the carrier from the refractory metal
- (d) contacting the refractory metal, after cooling, with an acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.