Patent ID: 9260765
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: B22F,C22B,C22C

Claim Text:
1. A process for the production of a tantalum alloy comprising: forming a reactant mixture comprising: positioning a magnesium oxide powder layer on at least a bottom surface of a graphite reaction vessel; positioning the reactant mixture in the graphite reaction vessel on top of the magnesium oxide powder layer; positioning a tantalum or tantalum alloy ignition wire in contact with the reactant mixture; sealing the reaction vessel inside a reaction chamber; establishing a vacuum inside the reaction chamber; energizing the ignition wire to initiate aluminothermic reactions between components of the reactant mixture, thereby producing reaction products comprising: cooling the reaction products to ambient temperature; removing the reaction products from the reaction vessel; and separating the slag and the regulus.