Patent ID: 6010749
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A process for the production of volatile metal which comprises:a. placing at least one curved piece of an oxidizable metal in a vessel;b. bringing said metal in said vessel to an elevated first temperature at which oxidation of said metal occurs at an acceptable rate;c. while at said first temperature, contacting said metal with an oxidizing gas for a period of time sufficient to oxidize said metal to a resultant metal oxide;d. placing at least one curved piece of said metal oxide within a hollow chamber having open inlet and outlet ends;e. bringing said metal oxide in said chamber to a second temperature, with said metal oxide continually maintaining an outer surface sufficiently curved to maintain a non-zero contact angle with a supporting member within said chamber; andf. while at said second temperature, flowing a reducing gas through said chamber from said inlet end to said outlet end and in contact with said metal oxide for a period of time sufficient to reduce at least a portion of said metal oxide to reduced metal and volatilize at least a portion of said reduced metal.