Methods for electrically forming materials

A method for electrolytically forming a material which comprises at least two elements, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the anode;
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell, the forming comprising primarily electrorefining of a first element of the at least two elements and primarily electrowinning of a second element of the at least two elements;
• the metallic product comprising the first and second elements;
• and
• wherein one of the first and second elements comprises titanium.

A method for electrolytically forming a material which comprises at least two elements, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the anode;
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell, the forming comprising primarily electrorefining of a first element of the at least two elements and primarily electrowinning of a second element of the at least two elements;
• the metallic product comprising the first and second elements;
• and
• wherein one of the first and second elements comprises tantalum.

A method for forming a material which comprises at least two elements, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the anode;
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell, the forming comprising primarily electrorefining of a first element of the at least two elements and primarily electrowinning of a second element of the at least two elements;
• the metallic product comprising the first and second elements;
• and
• shaping the metallic product into a physical vapor deposition target.

A method for electrolytically forming a material which comprises at least two elements, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, at least two anodes, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the at least two anodes;
• the at least two anodes comprising first and second anodes having different concentrations of a first element relative to one another;
• the electrolytic solution comprising a compound which includes a second element;
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell;
• the metallic product comprising a mixture of the first and second elements;
• wherein the first element is a metallic element;
• wherein the first anode consists essentially of the first element;
• and
• wherein the second anode predominately comprises carbon.

A method for electrolytically forming a material which comprises at least two elements, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, at least two anodes, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the at least two anodes;
• the at least two anodes comprising first and second anodes having different concentrations of a first element relative to one another;
• the electrolytic solution comprising a compound which includes a second element;
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell;
• the metallic product comprising a mixture of the first and second elements;
• and
• further comprising shaping the metallic product into a physical vapor deposition target.

A method for forming a material which comprises at least two elements, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, at least two anodes, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the at least two anodes;
• at least one of the at least two anodes comprising a first element, and the electrolytic solution comprising a compound which includes a second element;
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell;
• the metallic product comprising a mixture of the first and second elements;
• one of the at least two anodes being operated at a different voltage than an other of the at least two anodes during the electrolytically forming of the metallic product;
• and
• shaping the metallic product into a physical vapor deposition target.

A method for electrolytically forming a product which comprises a mixture of tantalum and titanium, the method comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution extending between the cathode and the anode;
• the anode comprising titanium and the electrolytic solution comprising a tantalum-containing compound;
• and
• electrolytically forming a metallic product with the electrolytic cell, the metallic product comprising a mixture of titanium from the anode and tantalum from the tantalum-containing compound.