Phlegmatized metal powder or alloy powder and method and reaction vessel for the production thereof

A metal powder or alloy powder with an average particle size less than 10 μm measured according to the Blaine or the Fisher permeability method, consisting of or containing the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium, produced by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of these metals with the help of calcium or magnesium as reduction metal, processed and isolated by leaching in aqueous acids, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder contains (a) nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm and hydrogen in a minimum amount of 500 ppm as passivating gases or (b) a passivating solid substance selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, nickel, and chromium with a proportional share of at least 2000 ppm (0.2% by weight) and at most 30,000 ppm (3% by weight), or both (a) and (b).

A method of making metal powder or alloy powder of an average particle size less than 10 μm, consisting of or containing at least one of the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of the cited reactive metals with the aid of a reduction metal, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder is then phlegmatized by carrying out in addition to the reduction both of the following steps:

• (a) adding passivating gases comprising nitrogen and hydrogen during the reduction of the oxides or halogenides and/or after the reduction of the oxides or halogenides during cooling of the metal powder or alloy powder to phlegmatize the metal powder or alloy powder, whereby as the passivating gases nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm and hydrogen in an amount of 500 to 2000 ppm are added into the metal powder or alloy powder, and
• (b) adding at least 2000 ppm (0.2% by weight) and at most 30,000 ppm (3% by weight) of a passivating solid substance prior to the reduction of the oxides or halogenides, the reduction as well as the phlegmatization being performed in a single gas-tight reaction container that can be evacuated.

A metal powder or alloy powder with an average particle size less than 10 μm measured according to the Blaine or the Fisher permeability method, consisting of or containing the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium, produced by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of these metals with the help of calcium or magnesium as reduction metal, processed and isolated by leaching in aqueous acids, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder contains (a) nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm and hydrogen in a minimum amount of 500 ppm as passivating gases and (b) a passivating solid substance with a proportional share of at least 2000 ppm (0.2% by weight) and at most 30,000 ppm (3% by weight).

A method of making metal powder or alloy powder of an average particle size less than 10 μm, consisting of or containing at least one of the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of the cited reactive metals with the aid of a reduction metal, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder is phlegmatized by carrying out in addition to the reduction the following step:

• (a) adding passivating gases during the reduction of the oxides or halogenides, and/or after the reduction of the oxides or halogenides during cooling of the metal powder or alloy powder to phlegmatize the metal powder or alloy powder whereby as passivating gas nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm and hydrogen in an amount of 500 to 2000 ppm are added into the metal powder or alloy powder.

A metal powder or alloy powder with an average particle size less than 10 μm measured according to the Blaine or the Fisher permeability method, consisting of or containing the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium, produced by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of these metals with the help of calcium or magnesium as reduction metal, processed and isolated by leaching in aqueous acids, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder contains (a) nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm and hydrogen in a minimum amount of 500 ppm as passivating gases.

A method of making metal powder or alloy powder of an average particle size less than 10 μm, consisting of or containing at least one of the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of the cited reactive metals with the aid of a reduction metal, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder is then phlegmatized by carrying out in addition to the reduction both of the following steps:

• (a) adding a passivating gas comprising nitrogen during the reduction of the oxides or halogenides and/or after the reduction of the oxides or halogenides during cooling of the metal powder or alloy powder to phlegmatize the metal powder or alloy powder, whereby as the passivating gas nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm is added into the metal powder or alloy powder, and
• (b) adding at least 2000 ppm (0.2% by weight) and at most 30,000 ppm (3% by weight) of a passivating solid substance prior to the reduction of the oxides or halogenides, the reduction as well as the phlegmatization being performed in a single gas-tight reaction container that can be evacuated.

A metal powder or alloy powder with an average particle size less than 10 μm measured according to the Blaine or the Fisher permeability method, consisting of or containing the reactive metals zirconium, titanium or hafnium, produced by the metallothermic reduction of the oxides or halogenides of these metals with the help of calcium or magnesium as reduction metal, processed and isolated by leaching in aqueous acids, wherein the metal powder or alloy powder contains (a) nitrogen in an amount of at least 1000 ppm as passivating gas and (b) a passivating solid substance with a proportional share of at least 2000 ppm (0.2% by weight) and at most 30,000 ppm (3% by weight).