US2848315A - Process for producing titanium, zirconium, and alloys of titanium and zirconium by reduction of oxides of titanium or zirconium - Google Patents
Process for producing titanium, zirconium, and alloys of titanium and zirconium by reduction of oxides of titanium or zirconium Download PDFInfo
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- US2848315A US2848315A US503789A US50378955A US2848315A US 2848315 A US2848315 A US 2848315A US 503789 A US503789 A US 503789A US 50378955 A US50378955 A US 50378955A US 2848315 A US2848315 A US 2848315A
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- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 28
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 title claims description 28
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 25
- QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zirconium Chemical compound [Zr] QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 22
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 20
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 title claims description 20
- 229910052726 zirconium Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 18
- 229910001069 Ti alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 12
- 229910001093 Zr alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 9
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 title description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 28
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 28
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims description 22
- 238000005275 alloying Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 18
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 13
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 11
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 10
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 claims description 10
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000011812 mixed powder Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910021332 silicide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 150000001247 metal acetylides Chemical class 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Manganese Chemical compound [Mn] PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011572 manganese Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 17
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 11
- OGIDPMRJRNCKJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N titanium oxide Inorganic materials [Ti]=O OGIDPMRJRNCKJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- MTPVUVINMAGMJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N trimethyl(1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethyl)silane Chemical compound C[Si](C)(C)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)F MTPVUVINMAGMJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- QIJNJJZPYXGIQM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1lambda4,2lambda4-dimolybdacyclopropa-1,2,3-triene Chemical compound [Mo]=C=[Mo] QIJNJJZPYXGIQM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 229910039444 MoC Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 229960004424 carbon dioxide Drugs 0.000 description 5
- 229910002090 carbon oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 229910002058 ternary alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 229910000599 Cr alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- KELHQGOVULCJSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N n,n-dimethyl-1-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diamine Chemical compound CN(C)C(CN)C1=CC=C(C)O1 KELHQGOVULCJSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- FVBUAEGBCNSCDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicide(4-) Chemical compound [Si-4] FVBUAEGBCNSCDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L manganese(2+);methyl n-[[2-(methoxycarbonylcarbamothioylamino)phenyl]carbamothioyl]carbamate;n-[2-(sulfidocarbothioylamino)ethyl]carbamodithioate Chemical compound [Mn+2].[S-]C(=S)NCCNC([S-])=S.COC(=O)NC(=S)NC1=CC=CC=C1NC(=S)NC(=O)OC WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- RVTZCBVAJQQJTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxygen(2-);zirconium(4+) Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[Zr+4] RVTZCBVAJQQJTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000011946 reduction process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910001928 zirconium oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- QIVUCLWGARAQIO-OLIXTKCUSA-N (3s)-n-[(3s,5s,6r)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]-2-oxospiro[1h-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3,6'-5,7-dihydrocyclopenta[b]pyridine]-3'-carboxamide Chemical compound C1([C@H]2[C@H](N(C(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)C=3C=C4C[C@]5(CC4=NC=3)C3=CC=CN=C3NC5=O)C2)CC(F)(F)F)C)=C(F)C=CC(F)=C1F QIVUCLWGARAQIO-OLIXTKCUSA-N 0.000 description 1
- CSDQQAQKBAQLLE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine Chemical compound C1=CC(Cl)=CC=C1C1C(C=CS2)=C2CCN1 CSDQQAQKBAQLLE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Boron Chemical compound [B] ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005997 Calcium carbide Substances 0.000 description 1
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001182 Mo alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000788 chromium alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- UFGZSIPAQKLCGR-UHFFFAOYSA-N chromium carbide Chemical compound [Cr]#C[Cr]C#[Cr] UFGZSIPAQKLCGR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- UMUXBDSQTCDPJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N chromium titanium Chemical compound [Ti].[Cr] UMUXBDSQTCDPJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010309 melting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009257 reactivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- CLZWAWBPWVRRGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N tert-butyl 2-[2-[2-[2-[bis[2-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxy]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-5-bromophenoxy]ethoxy]-4-methyl-n-[2-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxy]-2-oxoethyl]anilino]acetate Chemical compound CC1=CC=C(N(CC(=O)OC(C)(C)C)CC(=O)OC(C)(C)C)C(OCCOC=2C(=CC=C(Br)C=2)N(CC(=O)OC(C)(C)C)CC(=O)OC(C)(C)C)=C1 CLZWAWBPWVRRGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004408 titanium dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910003470 tongbaite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052720 vanadium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- GPPXJZIENCGNKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N vanadium Chemical compound [V]#[V] GPPXJZIENCGNKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B34/00—Obtaining refractory metals
- C22B34/10—Obtaining titanium, zirconium or hafnium
- C22B34/14—Obtaining zirconium or hafnium
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B34/00—Obtaining refractory metals
- C22B34/10—Obtaining titanium, zirconium or hafnium
- C22B34/12—Obtaining titanium or titanium compounds from ores or scrap by metallurgical processing; preparation of titanium compounds from other titanium compounds see C01G23/00 - C01G23/08
- C22B34/1263—Obtaining titanium or titanium compounds from ores or scrap by metallurgical processing; preparation of titanium compounds from other titanium compounds see C01G23/00 - C01G23/08 obtaining metallic titanium from titanium compounds, e.g. by reduction
- C22B34/1281—Obtaining titanium or titanium compounds from ores or scrap by metallurgical processing; preparation of titanium compounds from other titanium compounds see C01G23/00 - C01G23/08 obtaining metallic titanium from titanium compounds, e.g. by reduction using carbon containing agents, e.g. C, CO, carbides
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B34/00—Obtaining refractory metals
- C22B34/10—Obtaining titanium, zirconium or hafnium
- C22B34/12—Obtaining titanium or titanium compounds from ores or scrap by metallurgical processing; preparation of titanium compounds from other titanium compounds see C01G23/00 - C01G23/08
- C22B34/1295—Refining, melting, remelting, working up of titanium
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B4/00—Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys
Definitions
- the present invention is based on the discovery that the difiiculties encountered with prior processes are avoided and that titanium or zirconium of high purity of at least 99% may be obtained in a relatively simple way by carrying on the reduction of an oxide of either these metals with carbon or silicon or with the carbides or silicides of alloying metals of molybdenum, tungsten, chromium, nickel, aluminum, manganese, vanadium, iron and the like, in an are maintained under vacuum at temperatures of at least 3000 C. until the reaction is completed while all oxygen and carbon containing gases produced in the reactionare being removed from the reaction space.
- the titanium oxide or zirconium oxide which is to be reduced together with the reducing substance namely, carbon or silicon or the carbides or silicide-s of the ate-renamed alloying metals are formed into arc electrodes which are used for maintaining the electric reducing are under vacuum at temperatures of at least 3000 C. whereby the titanium or zirconium oxide of the self consuming arc electrode is reduced to titanium or zirconium of high purity.
- the alloying metals for producing the desired high purity alloys of titanium or zirconium may be utilized either in their metallic form or as carbides or silicides of these alloying metals or as other compounds, such as oxides of these metals.
- the alloying metal consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, chromium, aluminum, iron or manganese, may be used either in its metallic form or as part of a carbide, silicide or oxide of such alloying metal.
- the processes of the invention are particularly suited for producing titanium or zirconium alloys of a purity of at least 99% and containing to 50% of the above named alloying metals although high purity titanium or zirconium alloys of desirable properties will also be obtained with up to 95% of such alloying metal or metals.
- Example 1-A For producing a high purity alloy of titanium containing 6% molybdenum, titanium monoxide in finely powdered form is mixed with molybdenum carbide in finely powdered form, the proportions of the two ingredients being so chosen that their entire carbon and oxygen content shall combine into carbon monoxide in the re action which is carried on within the are under vacuum at a temperature of at least 3000 C.
- the thorough mixture of the so proportioned two powder bodies is compacted into a rod-shaped arc electrode which is utilized to maintain a reducing arc with a cooperating arc electrode formed of a conventional water-cooled copper electrode within an evacuated vessel which is connected to a vacuum pump system so as to maintain in the interior of the vessel the desired low vacuum throughout the reducing treatment.
- the are is suitably initiated between the two electrodes after first evacuating the vessel, and the reaction are is maintained in the evacuated vessel at a temperature of at least 3000 C. such as 3010 C. while the pump system removes from the interior of the vessel the carbon oxide gas formed in the course of the reaction and there is maintained therein a vacuum of at least 10* mm. (millimeter) mercury column.
- Example 1-B A correspondingly proportioned mixture of titanium oxide, titanium carbide powder and molybdenum carbide is used for the reducing arc electrode instead of an arc electrode of titanium oxide and molybdenum carbide of Example 1-A. Otherwise the process is carried on in the same way as Example 1-A.
- Example 1-C A correspondingly proportioned powder mixture of titanium oxide, molybdenum and molybdenum carbide is used for the reducing arc electrode instead of the powder mixture of titanium oxide and molybdenum carbide of Example 1-A. Otherwise the process is carried on in the same way as Example l-A.
- Example 2-A There is to be prepared an alloy of titanium and chromium with which there is to be formed-a ternary alloy of titanium, chromium and aluminum having a high purity of at least 99%.
- titanium dioxide powder and titanium carbide powder are mixed in such proportion that their carbon and oxygen content should be completely converted into a carbon oxide gas when subjected to the reducing reaction in an are maintained at at least 3000 C. under vacuum.
- This powder mixture is then subjected to a reaction between its ingredients under a purified hydrogen atmoshpere at 2200" C., or is general at a temperature between 2000 C. and 3000 C., which yields a body containing pure titanium, titanium monoxide and titanium carbide.
- This mixture body is pulverized and mixed in the desired proportion with chromium powder so that the titanium and chromium content of the mixture shall correspond to the desired titanium chromium alloy. If the mixture contains oxygen in excess of the amount required for producing a carbon-oxide gas in the subsequent are reducing reaction, some of the chromium content of the arc electrode is embodied therein as chromium carbide so that the total carbon and oxygen content of the mixture shall yield a carbon oxide gas when the powder mixture is subjected to the are reducing reaction under vacuum at a temperature of at least 3000 C. The powder mixture so prepared is then formed into a rod shaped arc electrode with which an arc reduction process, such as described in Example 1, iscarried on at a temperature of Y 3010 C. under vacuum of atleastabout 10* mm.
- Example-2B There is to be prepared a titanium alloy containing 23% aluminum and 35% chromium. The process is carried on in the manner explained in Example 2-A or 2-B with mixtures of titanium oxide powder, titanium carbide powder, together with aluminum powder and chromium powder, the individual powder ingredients being proportioned to yield the desired ternary alloy.
- the powder mixture of titanium oxide, titanium carbide, aluminum and chromium is compacted into arc electrodes which are used as self-consuming arc electrodes which maintain a reducing arc of a temperature of at least 3000 C. in an evacuated vessel as explained in the previous examples which arc reduces the titanium oxide into high purity titanium which is alloyed in the arc with the chromium and aluminum into the desired ternary alloy.
- Example4 There is to be prepared an alloy containing 20% titanium, molybdenum, and 70% zirconium.
- Metallic molybdenum is mixed with properly proportioned powders of the oxides and/or carbides of titanium and zirconium to yield the desired ternary alloy.
- the amount of carbide powders in the mixture is proportioned so that its entire carbon and oxygen content shall be converted into carbon oxide gas in the are reducing process.
- the powder mixture is compacted into arc electrodes which are used as self-consuming electrodes which maintain with an associated arc electrode a reducing arc at a temperature of 3005 C. in an evacuated vessel so as to yield by resulting reduction and melting process the desired ternary alloy of titanium, molybdenum and zirconium in a manner explained in the previous examples.
- the metal oxide content of the compacted arc electrode for causing the metal oxide content of the compacted arc electrode to be reduced, and proportioning the reducing substance relatively to the reactive metal oxide of said mixed powders to produce therefrom a resultant metal body containing at most 1% by weight impurities other than the metallic content thereof, which metallic content is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, an alloy of titanium, with at least one of said alloying metals containing 5% to 95% by weight of titanium, and an alloy of zirconium with at least one of said alloying metals containing 5% to 95 by weight of zirconium.
- said proportionof the ingredients of said powder mixture producing a resultant metal body selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, an alloy of titanium, with at least one of said alloying metals containing to titanium by weight, and an alloy of zirconium with at least one of said alloying metals containing 50% to 95% zirconium by weight.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Powder Metallurgy (AREA)
Description
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING TITANIUM, ZIRCO- NIUM, AND ALLOYS OF TITANIUM AND ZIR- CONIUM BY REDUCTION OF OXIDES F TITA- .NIUM 0R ZIRCO'NIUM Richard A. Kiei'fer and Friedrich Beuesovsky, Reutte, Tirol, Austria, assignors to Schwarzkopf Development Corporation, a corporation of Maryland No Drawing. Application April 25, 1955 Serial No. 503,789
7 Claims. (Cl. 7510) Because of their extremely high chemical reactivity great difficulties have been encountered in the past in producing titanium or zirconium of high purity. Many attempts have been made in the past to find a way for producing high purity titanium or zirconium by reducing their respective oxides with various reducing substances such as hydrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, aluminum, calcium, calcium hydride, calcium carbide, magnesium and the like. The heretofore proposed processes are not only very costly but they utterly fail to yield titanium or zirconium of the desired high purity. For instance, the best known processes for reducing titanium oxide with carbon within an arc body yielded a product containing only 95 to 97% titanium. Attempts to efiect such titanium reduction in vacuum at temperatures up to 2400 C. have merely yielded a mixture of titanium monoxide and titanium carbide.
The present invention is based on the discovery that the difiiculties encountered with prior processes are avoided and that titanium or zirconium of high purity of at least 99% may be obtained in a relatively simple way by carrying on the reduction of an oxide of either these metals with carbon or silicon or with the carbides or silicides of alloying metals of molybdenum, tungsten, chromium, nickel, aluminum, manganese, vanadium, iron and the like, in an are maintained under vacuum at temperatures of at least 3000 C. until the reaction is completed while all oxygen and carbon containing gases produced in the reactionare being removed from the reaction space.
In accordance with the invention. the titanium oxide or zirconium oxide which is to be reduced together with the reducing substance namely, carbon or silicon or the carbides or silicide-s of the ate-renamed alloying metals are formed into arc electrodes which are used for maintaining the electric reducing are under vacuum at temperatures of at least 3000 C. whereby the titanium or zirconium oxide of the self consuming arc electrode is reduced to titanium or zirconium of high purity. The alloying metals for producing the desired high purity alloys of titanium or zirconium may be utilized either in their metallic form or as carbides or silicides of these alloying metals or as other compounds, such as oxides of these metals.
For producing in accordance with the invention high purity alloys of titanium or zirconium, the alloying metal consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, chromium, aluminum, iron or manganese, may be used either in its metallic form or as part of a carbide, silicide or oxide of such alloying metal.
The processes of the invention are particularly suited for producing titanium or zirconium alloys of a purity of at least 99% and containing to 50% of the above named alloying metals although high purity titanium or zirconium alloys of desirable properties will also be obtained with up to 95% of such alloying metal or metals.
2,8431% Patented Aug. 19, 1958 Below are given a series of specific examples which will further illustrate the processes of the invention.
Example 1-A For producing a high purity alloy of titanium containing 6% molybdenum, titanium monoxide in finely powdered form is mixed with molybdenum carbide in finely powdered form, the proportions of the two ingredients being so chosen that their entire carbon and oxygen content shall combine into carbon monoxide in the re action which is carried on within the are under vacuum at a temperature of at least 3000 C. The thorough mixture of the so proportioned two powder bodies is compacted into a rod-shaped arc electrode which is utilized to maintain a reducing arc with a cooperating arc electrode formed of a conventional water-cooled copper electrode within an evacuated vessel which is connected to a vacuum pump system so as to maintain in the interior of the vessel the desired low vacuum throughout the reducing treatment. The are is suitably initiated between the two electrodes after first evacuating the vessel, and the reaction are is maintained in the evacuated vessel at a temperature of at least 3000 C. such as 3010 C. while the pump system removes from the interior of the vessel the carbon oxide gas formed in the course of the reaction and there is maintained therein a vacuum of at least 10* mm. (millimeter) mercury column.
Example 1-B A correspondingly proportioned mixture of titanium oxide, titanium carbide powder and molybdenum carbide is used for the reducing arc electrode instead of an arc electrode of titanium oxide and molybdenum carbide of Example 1-A. Otherwise the process is carried on in the same way as Example 1-A.
Example 1-C A correspondingly proportioned powder mixture of titanium oxide, molybdenum and molybdenum carbide is used for the reducing arc electrode instead of the powder mixture of titanium oxide and molybdenum carbide of Example 1-A. Otherwise the process is carried on in the same way as Example l-A.
Example 2-A There is to be prepared an alloy of titanium and chromium with which there is to be formed-a ternary alloy of titanium, chromium and aluminum having a high purity of at least 99%. In the initial process stage titanium dioxide powder and titanium carbide powder are mixed in such proportion that their carbon and oxygen content should be completely converted into a carbon oxide gas when subjected to the reducing reaction in an are maintained at at least 3000 C. under vacuum. This powder mixture is then subjected to a reaction between its ingredients under a purified hydrogen atmoshpere at 2200" C., or is general at a temperature between 2000 C. and 3000 C., which yields a body containing pure titanium, titanium monoxide and titanium carbide. This mixture body is pulverized and mixed in the desired proportion with chromium powder so that the titanium and chromium content of the mixture shall correspond to the desired titanium chromium alloy. If the mixture contains oxygen in excess of the amount required for producing a carbon-oxide gas in the subsequent are reducing reaction, some of the chromium content of the arc electrode is embodied therein as chromium carbide so that the total carbon and oxygen content of the mixture shall yield a carbon oxide gas when the powder mixture is subjected to the are reducing reaction under vacuum at a temperature of at least 3000 C. The powder mixture so prepared is then formed into a rod shaped arc electrode with which an arc reduction process, such as described in Example 1, iscarried on at a temperature of Y 3010 C. under vacuum of atleastabout 10* mm.
Example-2B Example 3 There is to be prepared a titanium alloy containing 23% aluminum and 35% chromium. The process is carried on in the manner explained in Example 2-A or 2-B with mixtures of titanium oxide powder, titanium carbide powder, together with aluminum powder and chromium powder, the individual powder ingredients being proportioned to yield the desired ternary alloy. The powder mixture of titanium oxide, titanium carbide, aluminum and chromium is compacted into arc electrodes which are used as self-consuming arc electrodes which maintain a reducing arc of a temperature of at least 3000 C. in an evacuated vessel as explained in the previous examples which arc reduces the titanium oxide into high purity titanium which is alloyed in the arc with the chromium and aluminum into the desired ternary alloy.
Example4 There is to be prepared an alloy containing 20% titanium, molybdenum, and 70% zirconium. Metallic molybdenum is mixed with properly proportioned powders of the oxides and/or carbides of titanium and zirconium to yield the desired ternary alloy. The amount of carbide powders in the mixture is proportioned so that its entire carbon and oxygen content shall be converted into carbon oxide gas in the are reducing process. The powder mixture is compacted into arc electrodes which are used as self-consuming electrodes which maintain with an associated arc electrode a reducing arc at a temperature of 3005 C. in an evacuated vessel so as to yield by resulting reduction and melting process the desired ternary alloy of titanium, molybdenum and zirconium in a manner explained in the previous examples.
Throughout the specification and claims all proportions are given by weight, unless otherwise specifically stated.
.t will be apparent to all those skilled in the art that the novel principles of the invention disclosed herein in connection with specific exemplifications thereof will suggest various other modifications and applications of the same. It is accordingly desired that in the present invention they shall not be limited to the specific exemplification thereof described herein.
We claim:
1. The process of reducing a meta'il oxide of a reactive metal selectedfrom the group consisting of titanium and zirconium with at least one reducing substance selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, and the carbides and the silicides of an alloying metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, chromium, aluminum, iron and manganese which process comprises mixing powder of a metal oxide of at least one of said reactive metals with powder of at least one of said reducing substances, compacting the so-mixecl powders into an arc electrode, and thereafter maintaining with the so-formed arc electrode and a cooperating other are electrode an are under vacuum with suflicient current (iii All.
to maintain the are at a high temperature of at least 3000 C. for causing the metal oxide content of the compacted arc electrode to be reduced, and proportioning the reducing substance relatively to the reactive metal oxide of said mixed powders to produce therefrom a resultant metal body containing at most 1% by weight impurities other than the metallic content thereof, which metallic content is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, an alloy of titanium, with at least one of said alloying metals containing 5% to 95% by weight of titanium, and an alloy of zirconium with at least one of said alloying metals containing 5% to 95 by weight of zirconium.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1, said proportionof the ingredients of said powder mixture producing a resultant metal body selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, an alloy of titanium, with at least one of said alloying metals containing to titanium by weight, and an alloy of zirconium with at least one of said alloying metals containing 50% to 95% zirconium by weight.
, 3. The process as claimed in claim 1, said mixed powders being mixed to consist of at least one of'said metal oxides and of a carbide of at least one of said alloying metals.
4. The process as claimed in claim 1, said mixed powders being mixed to consist of at least one of said metal oxides and of a silicide of at least one of said 7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mixed powders are mixed to consist of at least one of said metal oxides and of a silicide of at least one of said alloying metals, and wherein, before maintaining the are under vacuum with the arc electrode formed of the mixed powders, at least two different powder ingredients of the mixed powders are first treated under a protective atmosphere at an elevated temperature between 2000* C. and.
3000 C. to produce a reaction between said different ingredients.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,355 Moissan Oct. 5, 1897 892,212 Becket June 30, 1908 1,433,541 Freedman et al. Oct. 31, 1922 1,523,103 DAdrien Jan. 13, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 427,076 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1935 529,544 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES Comprehensive Treatise on Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, by Mellor, vol. 7, 1927, pp. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Published by Longmans, Green & Co., New York.
Claims (1)
1. THE PROCESS OF REDUCING A METAL OXIDE OF A REACTIVE METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TITANIUM AND ZIROCONIUM WITH AT LEAST ONE REDUCING SUBSTANCE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CARBON, SILICON, AND THE CARBIDES AND THE SILICIDES OF AN ALLOYING METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MOLYBDENUM, TUNGSTEN, NICKEL, CHROMIUM, ALUMINUM, IRON AND MANGANESE WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES MIXING POWDER OF A METAL OXIDE OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID REACTIVE METALS WITH POWDER OF AT LEAST ONE OF SUBSTANCES, COMPACTING THE SO-MIXED POWDERS INTO AN ARC ELECTRODE, AND THEREAFTER MAINTAINING WITH THE SO-FORMED ARC ELECTRODE AND A COOPERATING OTHER ARC ELECTRODE AN ARC UNDER VACUUM WITH SUFFICIENT CURRENT TO MAINTAIN THE ARC AT A HIGH TEMPARATURE OF AT LEAST 3000*C. FOR CAUSING THE METAL OXIDE CONTENT OF THE COMPACTED ARC ELECTRODE TO BE REDUCED, AND PROPORTIONING THE REDUCING SUBSTANCE RELATIVELY TO THE REACTIVE METAL OXIDE OF SAID MIXED POWDERS TO PRODUCE THEREFROM A RESULTANT METAL BODY CONTAINING AT MOST 1% BY WEIGHT IMPURITIES OTHER THAN THE METALLIC CONTENT THEREOF, WHICH METALLIC CONTENT IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TITANIUM, ZIRCONIUM, AN ALLOY OF TITANIUM, WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ALLOYING METALS CONTAINING 5% TO 95% BY WEIGHT OF TITANIUM, AND AN ALLOY OF ZIRCONIUM WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ALLOYING METALS CONTAINING 5% TO 95% BY WEIGHT OF ZIRCONIUM.
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US503789A US2848315A (en) | 1955-04-25 | 1955-04-25 | Process for producing titanium, zirconium, and alloys of titanium and zirconium by reduction of oxides of titanium or zirconium |
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Cited By (4)
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US3107165A (en) * | 1961-10-12 | 1963-10-15 | Nat Res Corp | Purification of tantalum metal by reduction of the oxygen content by means of carbon |
US3288593A (en) * | 1963-11-08 | 1966-11-29 | United Metallurg Corp | Purification of metals |
US3330646A (en) * | 1964-02-03 | 1967-07-11 | Harold J Heinen | Method for producing molybdenum from molybdenite |
US3406056A (en) * | 1964-11-17 | 1968-10-15 | Heurtey Sa | Methods of and devices for purifying high melting-point metals |
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US591355A (en) * | 1897-10-05 | Henri moissan | ||
US892212A (en) * | 1908-01-08 | 1908-06-30 | Electro Metallurg Co | Electric-furnace method. |
US1433541A (en) * | 1922-04-10 | 1922-10-31 | Freedman Paul | Method of extraction of metals from their compounds |
US1523103A (en) * | 1920-03-12 | 1925-01-13 | D Adrian Alexander L Duval | Method of obtaining metals from their respective oxides or ores |
GB427076A (en) * | 1934-05-16 | 1935-04-15 | Electro Metallurg Co | Improvements in or relating to zirconium alloys |
GB529544A (en) * | 1938-06-08 | 1940-11-22 | Bernhard Berghaus | Improvements in and relating to the thermal obtention of metals from metal compounds |
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Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US591355A (en) * | 1897-10-05 | Henri moissan | ||
US892212A (en) * | 1908-01-08 | 1908-06-30 | Electro Metallurg Co | Electric-furnace method. |
US1523103A (en) * | 1920-03-12 | 1925-01-13 | D Adrian Alexander L Duval | Method of obtaining metals from their respective oxides or ores |
US1433541A (en) * | 1922-04-10 | 1922-10-31 | Freedman Paul | Method of extraction of metals from their compounds |
GB427076A (en) * | 1934-05-16 | 1935-04-15 | Electro Metallurg Co | Improvements in or relating to zirconium alloys |
GB529544A (en) * | 1938-06-08 | 1940-11-22 | Bernhard Berghaus | Improvements in and relating to the thermal obtention of metals from metal compounds |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3107165A (en) * | 1961-10-12 | 1963-10-15 | Nat Res Corp | Purification of tantalum metal by reduction of the oxygen content by means of carbon |
US3288593A (en) * | 1963-11-08 | 1966-11-29 | United Metallurg Corp | Purification of metals |
US3330646A (en) * | 1964-02-03 | 1967-07-11 | Harold J Heinen | Method for producing molybdenum from molybdenite |
US3406056A (en) * | 1964-11-17 | 1968-10-15 | Heurtey Sa | Methods of and devices for purifying high melting-point metals |
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