Patent ID: 6197082
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
The method of refining high oxygen sources of refractory metal(s) comprising the step of intermixing a solid reducing agent the refractory metal(s) and heating the metal(s) with the intermixed solid reducing agent with at a temperature at or above melting point of the metal while suppressing partial pressure of oxides of the refractory metal through maintenance of an elevated pressure environment to produce a refined refractory metal, the process being controlled so that only a portion of the intermixed reducing agent and source material melts at a time while the oxide of solid adjacent source material is reduced before melting as well as during its eventual melting, the process being further controlled to effect substantial oxygen, nitrogen removal while suppressing carbide formation and over 90% by weight of the refractory metal of the source is recovered.