Patent ID: 7291317

Claim:
A process for synthesizing extremely high-temperature melting materials, comprising the steps of: a) Mixing: carbon and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of transition, lanthanide and actinide metals in a stoichiometric ratio corresponding to a desired compound forming a feedstock, the feedstock having a spherical pellet shape capable of levitation; b) Placing the feedstock on a nozzle of an aerodynamic levitator, the aerodynamic levitator having a levitation chamber, conical nozzle, a gas laser, a pyrometer, a camera, and a vacuum pump; c) Clearing the levitation chamber of the aerodynamic levitator of any potential contaminant gas or materials using the levitator's vacuum pump; d) Filling the reaction chamber of aerodynamic levitator with a first argon gas e) Levitating the feedstock using the aerodynamic levitator, the levitator using a second argon gas to levitate the feedstock, the flow of the second argon gas being increased or decreased to control the position of the feedstock, levitation being based on the rate of flow of the second argon gas; f) Heating the levitating feedstock using the gas laser to a minimum of 200° C. above the desired compound's melting point; g) When the feedstock begins to melt together, increasing the power of the laser by between 20-70%, continuing to heat the feedstock until the feedstock is completely molten and the temperature begins to stabilize, the interaction between the feedstock forming a compound; h) Cooling the resulting compound.