Patent ID: 6855185
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: B22F,C01G,C01P,C22B,C22C,H01G

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing niobium and/or tantalum powder consisting of: (1) a first-stage reduction process of reducing niobium and/or tantalum oxides with at least one member selected from the group of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals to obtain low-grade oxide powder represented by (NbTa) Ox, where x=0.06 to 0.35, wherein the at least one member is turned to an oxide, (2) a process of removing the oxide of at least one member generated in the first-stage reduction process, and (3) a second-stage reduction process of reducing the low-grade oxide powder obtained in the first-stage reduction process, with a melt solution of at least one member selected from the group of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals in a temperature range of 400 to 1200° C., to obtain niobium and/or tantalum powder.