Patent ID: 7150776
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: B22F,C01G,C01P,H01G

Abstract:
1. A high purity powder, wherein the high purity powder comprises a powder that is essentially uniform particle size and substantially free of impurities; wherein the powder is made by a method comprising: (a) continuously feeding, into a furnace, (b) igniting the oxide particle component and the reducing agent at a reaction zone, starting a reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to form a high temperature, self-sustaining flash; and (c) producing a free-flowing reduced oxide powder selected from the group consisting of tantalum metal powders, tantalum metal alloy powders, and mixtures thereof, and thereby forming the powder wherein said high purity powder comprises chromium in an amount of less than 5 ppm, iron in an amount of less than 5 ppm, nickel in an amount of less than 5 ppm, potassium in an amount of less than 10 ppm, and sodium in an amount of less than 1 ppm.