Purifying Powdered Metal Or Reducing Powdered Metal Compound To Free Metal Patents (Class 75/369)
  • Patent number: 9700942
    Abstract: Provided are a method for producing nickel seed crystals that maintains and improves the quality of nickel powder at a low cost while suppressing production cost and environmental load in the production of nickel powder, by optimizing the amount of hydrazine added when producing fine nickel powder as seed crystals using hydrazine; and a method for producing nickel powder using the nickel seed crystals. The method for producing seed crystals used for producing hydrogen-reduced nickel powder, including adding, to an acid solution containing nickel ions that is maintained at a temperature of 50 to 60° C., hydrazine of 1 to 1.25 mol per 1 mol of a nickel component contained in the acid solution to produce the seed crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yoneyama, Shin-ichi Heguri, Hideki Ohara, Osamu Ikeda, Yohei Kudo
  • Patent number: 9260765
    Abstract: Processes for the production of tantalum alloys are disclosed. The processes use aluminothermic reactions to reduce tantalum pentoxide to tantalum metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ATI PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Arnel M. Fajardo, John W. Foltz, IV
  • Patent number: 9233419
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing sinterable molybdenum metal powder in a moving bed, sinterable molybdenum powder and its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventor: Benno Gries
  • Patent number: 9034074
    Abstract: In a method for producing a reduced iron pellet, when a powder formed article including iron oxide and carbon is heated and reduced in a rotary hearth furnace, a formed article produced using a raw material, in which an average diameter of the iron oxide is 50 microns or less and a ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a reduction zone is from 0.3 to 1, is reduced at a temperature of 1400° C. or less, thereby producing a reduced iron pellet in which a metallization ratio of iron is 50 to 85% and a ratio of residual carbon is 2% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Ibaraki, Hiroshi Oda
  • Patent number: 8979975
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing low oxygen-content molybdenum powders by reducing molybdenum trioxide, which includes charging a first reducing agent and the molybdenum trioxide, which are in the direct contact with each other on a micro-sieve on an upper portion of a bracket in a body, charging a second reducing agent in the bracket under the micro-sieve, coupling the body with a cover to close the body, and performing a reduction reaction by raising an internal temperature of the body by performing the first reduction reaction due to direct contact between the first reducing agent and the molybdenum trioxide, and performing the second reduction reaction due to evaporation of the second reducing agent. The first and second reduction reactions are performed at a temperature in a range of 550° C. to 650° C., and a temperature in a range of 1000° C. to 1200° C., respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
    Inventors: Hyung-Seok Kim, Jung-Min Oh, Chang-Youl Suh, Back-Kyu Lee, Jae-Won Lim
  • Patent number: 8951329
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process that involves (1) feeding (a) a first valve metal powder component containing valve metal particles and (b) reducing component into a reactor having a hot zone; and (2) subjecting the first valve metal powder component and the reducing component to non-static conditions sufficient to simultaneously (i) agglomerate the first valve metal powder component particles, and (ii) reduce oxygen content in the valve metal powder component particles, and thereby form a second valve metal powder component containing oxygen-reduced valve metal particles, in which the reducing component is selected from the group consisting of magnesium reducing components, calcium reducing components, aluminum reducing components, lithium reducing components, barium reducing components, strontium, reducing components, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: H.C. Starck GmbH
    Inventors: Leonid Lanin, Anastasia M. Conlon, Michael J. Albarelli
  • Patent number: 8888889
    Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods for making non-hollow, non-fragmented spherical metal or metal alloy particles using diffusion dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company, University of Maryland
    Inventors: Howard David Glicksman, Sheryl Ehrman, Alex Langrock, George Lee Peabody, V, Kai Zhong
  • Patent number: 8882878
    Abstract: A method of producing ultra-fine metal particles of the present invention includes: blowing metal powders of raw materials into reducing flame formed by a burner 3 in a furnace 5, wherein the metal powders are melted in the flame and allowed to be in an evaporated state, to thereby obtain the spherical ultra-fine metal particles. In the present invention, the atmosphere in the furnace 5 is preferably prepared such that the CO/CO2 ratio is within a range from 0.15 to 1.2. Also, a spiral flow-forming gas is preferably blown into the furnace 5, and the oxygen ratio of the burner 3 is preferably within a range from 0.4 to 0.8. As raw materials, a metal oxide and/or a metal hydroxide which contain the same metal as the metal powders may be used together with the metal powders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Igarashi, Takayuki Matsumura, Shinichi Miyake
  • Patent number: 8852315
    Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapor at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: CVMR Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Curlook, Dimitri S. Terekhov, Sergiy Kotvun, Olujide Babatunde Olurin, Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel
  • Patent number: 8834597
    Abstract: A method of fabricating metallic Cu nanowires with lengths up to about 25 ?m and diameters in a range 20-100 nm, or greater if desired. Vertically oriented or laterally oriented copper oxide structures (CuO and/or Cu2O) are grown on a Cu substrate. The copper oxide structures are reduced with 99+ percent H or H2, and in this reduction process the lengths decrease (to no more than about 25 ?m), the density of surviving nanostructures on a substrate decreases, and the diameters of the surviving nanostructures have a range, of about 20-100 nm. The resulting nanowires are substantially pure Cu and can be oriented laterally (for local or global interconnects) or can be oriented vertically (for standard vertical interconnects).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: The United Stated of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Han, Meyya Meyyappan
  • Patent number: 8821610
    Abstract: A method and a device are described for the production of metal powder or alloy powder of a moderate grain sizes less than 10 ?m, comprising or containing at least one of the reactive metals zirconium, titanium, or hafnium, by metallothermic reduction of oxides or halogenides of the cited reactive metals with the aid of a reducing metal, wherein said metal powder or alloy powder is phlegmatized by adding a passivating gas or gas mixture during and/or after the reduction of the oxides or halogenides and/or is phlegmatized by adding a passivating solid before the reduction of the oxides or halogenides, wherein both said reduction and also said phlegmatization are performed in a single gas-tight reaction vessel which can be evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Tradium GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Gerhard Baudis
  • Patent number: 8801829
    Abstract: Process for the production of valve metal powders, in particular niobium and tantalum powder, by reduction of corresponding valve metal oxide powders by means of vaporous reducing metals and/or hydrides thereof, preferably in the presence of an inert carrier gas, wherein the reduction is performed at a vapor partial pressure of the reducing metal/metal hydride of 5 to 110 hPa and an overall pressure of less than 1000 hPa, and tantalum powder obtainable in this way having a high stability of the powder agglomerate particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: H. C. Starck GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Haas, Ulrich Bartmann, Tadashi Komeya, Nobuyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8758476
    Abstract: Provided are a method of producing mixed powder comprising noble metal powder and oxide powder, wherein powder of ammonium chloride salt of noble metal and oxide powder are mixed, the mixed powder is subsequently roasted, and ammonium chloride is desorbed by the roasting process in order to obtain mixed powder comprising noble metal powder and oxide powder, and mixed powder comprising noble metal powder and oxide powder, wherein chlorine is less than 1000 ppm, nitrogen is less than 1000 ppm, 90% or more of the grain size of the noble metal powder is 20 ?m or less, and 90% or more of the grain size of the oxide powder is 12 ?m or less. Redundant processes in the production of noble metal powder are eliminated, and processes are omitted so that the inclusion of chlorine contained in the royal water and nitrogen responsible for hydrazine reduction reaction is eliminated as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Atsutoshi Arakawa, Kazuyuki Satoh, Atsushi Sato
  • Publication number: 20140144291
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing low oxygen-content molybdenum powders by reducing molybdenum trioxide, which includes charging a first reducing agent and the molybdenum trioxide, which are in the direct contact with each other on a micro-sieve on an upper portion of a bracket in a body, charging a second reducing agent in the bracket under the micro-sieve, coupling the body with a cover to close the body, and performing a reduction reaction by raising an internal temperature of the body by performing the first reduction reaction due to direct contact between the first reducing agent and the molybdenum trioxide, and performing the second reduction reaction due to evaporation of the second reducing agent. The first and second reduction reactions are performed at a temperature in a range of 550° C. to 650° C., and a temperature in a range of 1000° C. to 1200° C., respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES
    Inventors: Hyung-Seok KIM, Jung-Min Oh, Chang-Youl Suh, Back-Kyu Lee, Jae-Won Lim
  • Patent number: 8721762
    Abstract: A process for synthesizing metal submicron and nano-scale powders for use in articles of manufacture. In a suitable reactor, single metal or multiple metal complexes are heated to a temperature whereby, upon contact with hydrogen gas, an exothermic reaction begins. The further temperature rise in response to the exothermic reaction is minimized by reducing the external heat input, thereby minimizing the agglomeration or sintering of the metal nano-scale particles resulting from the process. Preferably, after drawing a vacuum on the metal complexes in the reactor, the hydrogen is introduced at about, equal to or below ambient pressure and the reaction is purposely made slow to prevent agglomeration or sintering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Chemano, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8709126
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods of forming metallic particles or carbon/graphite coated metallic particles with zero-valence from metal precursor compounds by a reductive/expansion synthesis method using nitrogen-hydrogen containing molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Claudia Catalina Luhrs, Zayd Leseman, Jonathan Phillips, Hugo Ricardo Zea-Ramirez
  • Patent number: 8673052
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a tantalum powder with high specific capacity, which process comprising the steps of, in sequence, (1) a first reduction step: mixing tantalum oxide powder and a first reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tantalum suboxides powder; (2) a second reduction step: mixing the tantalum suboxides powder obtained from the step (1), in which impurities have been removed, and a second reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tantalum powder having high oxygen content; (3) a third reduction step: mixing the tantalum powder having high oxygen content obtained from the step (2), in which impurities have been removed, with a third reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tanta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wenfeng Shi, Xueqing Chen, Yong Li, Xudong Xi, Tao Guo
  • Patent number: 8623112
    Abstract: Processes comprising: melting a mixture comprising a valve metal precursor and a diluting agent in at least one first vessel under a first set of temperature and residence time conditions; transferring the mixture to at least one second vessel; and initiating, in the at least one second vessel, a reaction of the valve metal precursor to form a valve metal under a second set of temperature and residence time conditions; valve metal powder prepared thereby and uses therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: H.C. Starck GmbH
    Inventors: Josua Löffelholz, Jürgen Hilpert
  • Patent number: 8562715
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing sinterable molybdenum metal powder in a moving bed, sinterable molybdenum powder and its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventor: Benno Gries
  • Patent number: 8449646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing low-oxygen titanium powders. The method includes (a) separately placing titanium base powders and calcium in a deoxidation container, (b) deoxidizing the titanium base powders by heating an inner part of the deoxidation container at a temperature of 850° C. to 1050° C. so that the calcium is evaporated to make contact with the titanium base powders, (c) removing calcium oxide from surfaces of titanium powders, which are obtained by deoxidizing the titanium base powders in step (b), by washing the titanium powders, and (d) drying the titanium powders subject to the removing of the calcium oxide in step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
    Inventors: Jae-Won Lim, Jung-Min Oh, Back-Kyu Lee, Chang-Youl Suh, Sung-Wook Cho
  • Publication number: 20130125706
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing low-oxygen titanium powders. The method includes (a) separately placing titanium base powders and calcium in a deoxidation container, (b) deoxidizing the titanium base powders by heating an inner part of the deoxidation container at a temperature of 850° C. to 1050° C. so that the calcium is evaporated to make contact with the titanium base powders, (c) removing calcium oxide from surfaces of titanium powders, which are obtained by deoxidizing the titanium base powders in step (b), by washing the titanium powders, and (d) drying the titanium powders subject to the removing of the calcium oxide in step (c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Jae-Won LIM, Jung-Min OH, Back-Kyu LEE, Chang-Youl SUH, Sung-Wook CHO
  • Patent number: 8430944
    Abstract: A process and system for producing tantalum or other valve metal particles is provided comprising forming tantalum particles in a reduction process carried out in a reactor vessel, and using a siphon to transfer fine tantalum particles out of the reaction mixture to a recovery vessel. This particle transfer can occur while the reaction mixture is agitated. The tantalum particles can be automatically withdrawn when the reaction mixture has a depth level greater than the fluid level of the tantalum fine particle recovery vessel, and outflow automatically stops when the fluid levels of the reactor and particle recovery vessel equilibrate. Tantalum or other valve metal powders made by the processes, and capacitors made with valve metal powders are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Global Advanced Metals, USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Iijima
  • Publication number: 20130084238
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of making a nanomaterial and a method of fabricating a lithium secondary battery using the same. The method of making a nanomaterial includes preparing a mixed solution including a metal salt aqueous solution and an alkylamine, and hydrothermally treating the mixed solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: UNIST Academy-Industry Research Corporation
    Inventor: UNIST Academy-Industry Research Corporation
  • Patent number: 8398741
    Abstract: Fine composite metal particle comprising a metal core and a coating layer of carbon, and being obtained by reducing metal oxide powder with carbon powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kaneko, Shigeo Fujii, Hisato Tokoro
  • Patent number: 8388727
    Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of titanium hydride powder using continuous or semi-continuous process, and using titanium slag or synthetic rutile as raw materials, while hydrogen, titanium tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, titanium dichloride, and hydrogen chloride are participate as intermediate reaction products. The continuous comprises: (a) reduction of TiCl4 to low titanium chlorides followed by cooling a mixture, (b) separating of residual TiCl4 from solid low chlorides by heating the mixture in argon or vacuum up to 150° C. followed by removing the titanium tetrachloride from the mixture, (c) dissociation of TiCl3 to TiCl2 at 450° C. in vacuum followed by removal of gaseous titanium tetrachloride from the reaction zone, condensation to the liquid, and returning back into the reaction retort, (d) dissociation of TiCl2 in vacuum at 750-850° C. to manufacture fine powder of metallic titanium and titanium tetrachloride, whereby hydrogen heated up to 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ADMA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrey Klevtsov, Alexander Nikishin, Jury Shuvalov, Vladimir Moxson, Volodymyr Duz
  • Patent number: 8343668
    Abstract: A porous tin particle and its preparation method are provided in the present invention. The method includes steps of: (a) performing a reductive (or reductive electrochemical) reaction on a tin particle which simultaneously reacts with lithium ions to form a tin-lithium (Sn—Li) alloy; and (b) performing an oxidative (or oxidative electrochemical) reaction on Sn—Li alloy to release the lithium ions therefrom, and the porous tin particle is formed. The porous tin particle could be further applied in manufacturing the electrochemical electrode for lithium-ion battery with longer cycle life and higher reversibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Nae-Lih Wu, Sung-Chieh Chao
  • Patent number: 8343254
    Abstract: Composite Ni particles each having a silica coat is improved in oxidation resistance and heat shrink characteristics. A method of preparing composite Ni particles by using an organic Ni composite includes steps of: stirring and heating a nickel salt solution and a raw material of silica coat at a temperature ranging 25° C. to 80° C. for 0.5 hours to 2 hours; filtering, cleaning and drying a resultant product into an organic nickel composite; and thermally treating the organic nickel composite at a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 500° C. for 0.5 hours to 4 hours. The resultant composite Ni particles have excellent oxidation resistance and heat shrink characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Il Lee, Jae Woo Jung, In Keun Shim
  • Patent number: 8317894
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of producing metal nanoparticles continuously, and metal nanoparticles produced thereby. The method comprises: (a) preparing a metal precursor solution by dissolving a metal precursor in alcohol; (b) continuously putting the metal precursor solution into a reactor having supercritical conditions, thereby producing metal nanoparticles; (c) cooling the solution obtained in step (b); and (d) separating and collecting the metal nanoparticles from the solution obtained in step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jaehoon Kim, Jae Duck Kim, Jong Min Park, Hong Gon Kim, Byoung Koun Min
  • Publication number: 20120230860
    Abstract: A method for purifying metal M1 particles manufactured by an electrochemical reduction process, the method comprising the steps of introducing the metal M1 particles into a heat source (13) at a temperature substantially equal to or higher than the melting point of M1 so as to cause vaporisation of some or substantially all of the contaminating impurities present, removing the vaporised impurities from the vicinity of the particles, and cooling the purified metal M1 particles. The purified particles can be used directly in lower temperature powder metallurgy processes and have a fully dense spherical particle morphology, imparting good flowability. The purification process can also be incorporated as an integral stage of sheet or stock production processes based on particle feedstocks that have been produced by electrochemical reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: METALYSIS LIMITED
    Inventors: Charles M. WARD-CLOSE, Alastair B. Godfrey, Paul S. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8226741
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of a metal powder having a purity at least as high as the starting powder and having an oxygen content of 10 ppm or less comprising heating said metal powder containing oxygen in the form of an oxide, with the total oxygen content being from 50 to 3000 ppmf in an inert atmosphere at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10?7 to a temperature at which the oxide of the metal powder becomes thermodynamically unstable and removing the resulting oxygen via volatilization. The metal powder is preferably selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, rhenium and tungsten. The invention also relates to the powders produced by the process and the use of such powders in a cold spray process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: H.C. Starck, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid N. Shekhter, Steven A. Miller, Leah F. Haywiser, Rong-Chein Richard Wu
  • Patent number: 8147586
    Abstract: Method for producing molybdenum metal powder. The invention includes introducing a supply of ammonium molybdate precursor material into a furnace in a first direction and introducing a reducing gas into a cooling zone in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The ammonium molybdate precursor material is heated at an initial temperature in the presence of the reducing gas to produce an intermediate product that is heated at a final temperature in the presence of the reducing gas, thereby creating the molybdenum metal powder comprising particles having a surface area to mass ratio of between about 1 m2/g and about 4 m2/g, as determined by BET analysis, and a flowability of between about 29 s/50 g and 86 s/50 g as determined by a Hall Flowmeter. The molybdenum metal powder is moved through the cooling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Climax Engineered Materials, LLC
    Inventors: Loyal M. Johnson, Jr., Sunil Chandra Jha, Patrick Ansel Thompson
  • Publication number: 20120042750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing magnetic metal particles for magnetic recording, comprising: heat-treating goethite particles having an aluminum content of 4 to 50 atom % in terms of Al based on whole Fe to obtain hematite particles; and heat-reducing the hematite particles at a temperature of 200 to 600° C., the goethite particles being obtained by adding a peroxodisulfate to a reaction solution comprising: a ferrous salt aqueous solution and a mixed alkali aqueous solution comprising: an alkali hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution or alkali carbonate aqueous solution and an alkali hydroxide aqueous solution before initiation of an oxidation reaction of the reaction solution, and then conducting the oxidation reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: TODA KOGYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mineko OHSUGI, Toshiharu HARADA, Takahiro MATSUO, Yosuke YAMAMOTO, Kazuyuki HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8118906
    Abstract: A method of recycling ruthenium (Ru) and Ru-based alloys comprises steps of: providing a solid body of Ru or a Ru-based alloy; segmenting the body to form a particulate material; removing contaminants, including Fe, from the particulate material; reducing the sizes of the particulate material to form a powder material; removing contaminants, including Fe, from the powder material; reducing oxygen content of the powder material to below a predetermined level to form a purified powder material; and removing particles greater than a predetermined size from the purified powder material. The purified powder material may be utilized for forming deposition sources, e.g., sputtering targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Heraeus Inc.
    Inventors: Wuwen Yi, William Heckman, Bernd Kunkel, Carl Derrington, Patrick Griffin
  • Patent number: 8114186
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing of iron—respectively micro-alloyed steel powders, starting from fluffy spray roasted iron oxides exhibiting a specific surface area in excess of 2.0 m2/g and residual chloride contents over 440 ppm Cl?, decrease the chloride content in two steps to less than 100 ppm, the specific surface area (BET) of to a pre-selected value of less than 10.0 m2/g, preferably between 0.1 and 2.0 m2/g and reduce the pre-sintered granules exhibiting a bulk density in excess of 1.200 g/dm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Michael J. Ruthner
  • Publication number: 20120024110
    Abstract: A powder processing method includes degassing a metallic powder in a rotating chamber that is evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure. The method may also include storing the metallic powder in a rotating storage chamber that is pressurized to a super-atmospheric pressure with a dry cover gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 8066861
    Abstract: A method for producing metal powder is provided the comprising supplying a molten bath containing a reducing agent, contacting a metal oxide with the molten bath for a time and at a temperature sufficient to reduce the metal in the metal oxide to elemental metal and produce free oxygen; and isolating the elemental metal from the molten bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Jong-Hee Park
  • Patent number: 8062406
    Abstract: A process for producing metallic ultra-fine powder, which can use a raw material which is spread over a wide range, and control freely the grain size of the metallic powder to be produced, at low cost and high safety. The process for producing the metallic ultra fine powder consists of using a burner and a furnace which can generate a high temperature reductive atmosphere, and an apparatus for separating gas which is generated in the furnace from powder to recover the powder. The burner has a function of blowing a powdery metallic compound as a raw material into a high temperature reductive flame. The raw material powder is efficiently heated in airflow of a high temperature reductive flame, thereby being reduced rapidly into metallic ultra-fine powder. At this time, the grain size of the metallic ultra-fine powder is controlled by adjusting the oxygen ratio (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Igarashi, Takayuki Matsumura, Shinichi Miyake
  • Patent number: 8057780
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for synthesizing a nanoparticle using a carbene derivative. More specifically, provided is a method for synthesizing a nanoparticle by adding one or more precursors to an organic solvent to grow a crystal, wherein a specific carbene derivative is used as the precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Joo Jang, Seung Uk Son
  • Patent number: 8021459
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a continuous metal removal in conjunction with a zinc preparation process, in which the metal removal is performed in one or more reactors (11a-c), in conjunction with the reactor, the redox potential (16a-c) and the acidity and/or basicity are measured, and based on the measurement results, the process variables (17a-c) of the metal removal are adjusted towards the desired direction. According to the invention, the redox potential measurements (16a-c) are performed from the sludge produced in the reactor in conjunction with the outlet pipe of the reactor outside the reactor, and the measuring instrument (16a-c) is purified at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Aimo Järvinen, Kai Judin, Harri Natunen, Yrjö Oinonen, Panu Talonen
  • Patent number: 8012273
    Abstract: A metallic article is produced by furnishing one or more nonmetallic precursor compound comprising the metallic constituent element(s), and chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor compound(s) to produce an initial metallic particle, preferably having a size of no greater than about 0.070 inch, without melting the initial metallic particle. The initial metallic particle is thereafter melted and solidified to produce the metallic article. By this approach, the incidence of chemical defects in the metal article is minimized. The melted-and-solidified metal may be used in the as-cast form, or it may be converted to billet and further worked to the final form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew P. Woodfield, Clifford E. Shamblen, Eric A. Ott
  • Patent number: 7988760
    Abstract: There is described a method of making a nanocrystalline tungsten powder that comprises: (a) heating a tungsten-containing material in a reducing atmosphere at an intermediate temperature of from about 600° C. to about 700° C. for an intermediate time period; the tungsten-containing material being selected from ammonium paratungstate, ammonium metatungstate or a tungsten oxide; and (b) increasing the temperature to a final temperature of about 800° C. to about 1000° C. for a final time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Global Tungsten & Powders Corp.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Lunk, Henry J. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20110162484
    Abstract: Integrated process, in which pure carbonyl iron powder (CIP) is prepared by decomposition of pure iron pentacarbonyl (IPC) in a plant A, carbon monoxide (CO) liberated in the decomposition of the IPC is used in plant A for the preparation of further CIP from iron or is fed to an associated plant B for the preparation of synthesis gas or is fed to an associated plant C for the preparation of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, and the CIP prepared in plant A is used as catalyst or catalyst component in an associated plant C for the preparation of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas from plant B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Jochen Steiner, Ekkehard Schwab, Andreas Keller, Otto Watzenberger, Ulrich Grässle, Manfred Julius
  • Patent number: 7968008
    Abstract: Particles and particle films are provided. In certain examples, particles produced from a single phase process may be used to provide industrial scale synthesis of particles for use in devices such as printed wiring boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Fry's Metals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sachin Parashar, Siuli Sarkar, Oscar Khaselev, Brian G. Lewis, Michael T. Marczi, Bawa Singh, Nitin Desai, Michael Liberatore
  • Patent number: 7959707
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include methods for producing purified semiconductor or metallic materials. In one embodiment, the methods include admixing a particulate composition of a material, for instance, a metal, with a metal halide to produce a metal-metal halide admixture. The admixture is then heated to a temperature that is above the material's melting point in a container that is chemically and physically stable at that temperature. The molten admixture is allowed to segregate into a lower of the material and an layer of the metal halide and cooled. The metal halide is then separated from the material and a purified semiconductor or metallic material is thereby produced. Also provided are purified material crystals, shaped ingots and/or taper, sheet, or ribbons produced by such methods, as well as the silicon chips and solar panels in which such products are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Angel Sanjurjo, Kai-Hung Lau, Xiaobing Xie, Anoop Nagar
  • Patent number: 7931855
    Abstract: A method of reducing the oxygen content of a powder is provided. A canister is prepared with a getter, filled with the powder to be densified, sealed and evacuated. The canister is subjected to a hydrogen atmosphere at an elevated temperature whereby hydrogen diffuses into the canister through the walls thereof. The hydrogen forms moisture when reacted with the oxygen of the powder and the moisture in the reacted with the getter in order to remove oxygen from the powder to the getter. The atmosphere outside the canister is then altered to an inert atmosphere or vacuum, whereby hydrogen diffuses out of the canister. A dense body having a controlled amount of oxygen can thereafter be produced by conventional powder metallurgy techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventors: Roger Berglund, Hans Eriksson, Johan Sundstrom, Per Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 7892316
    Abstract: Fine composite metal particle comprising a metal core and a coating layer of carbon, and being obtained by reducing metal oxide powder with carbon powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kaneko, Shigeo Fujii, Hisato Tokoro
  • Publication number: 20110023657
    Abstract: In a method for producing a reduced iron pellet, when a powder formed article including iron oxide and carbon is heated and reduced in a rotary hearth furnace, a formed article produced using a raw material, in which an average diameter of the iron oxide is 50 microns or less and a ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a reduction zone is from 0.3 to 1, is reduced at a temperature of 1400° C. or less, thereby producing a reduced iron pellet in which a metallization ratio of iron is 50 to 85% and a ratio of residual carbon is 2% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Ibaraki, Hiroshi Oda
  • Publication number: 20110020663
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to metal reduction processes, which comprise adding a mixture comprising at least one metal-containing material, at least one reducing agent, and at least one additive into a reactor, heating the reactor to a selected reduction temperature, moving the mixture through the reactor while stirring the mixture, allowing a reduction period to occur, and obtaining a resulting composition comprising at least one zero-valent metal and a residue. The disclosure also relates to metallurgical processes comprising the metal reduction process, and products made by the metal reduction process. The disclosure further relates to metal reduction apparatuses, as well as metal reduction systems and metallurgical systems comprising the metal reduction apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Bairong LI
  • Publication number: 20100326239
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a tantalum powder with high specific capacity, which process comprising the steps of, in sequence, (1) a first reduction step: mixing tantalum oxide powder and a first reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tantalum suboxides powder; (2) a second reduction step: mixing the tantalum suboxides powder obtained from the step (1), in which impurities have been removed, and a second reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tantalum powder having high oxygen content; (3) a third reduction step: mixing the tantalum powder having high oxygen content obtained from the step (2), in which impurities have been removed, with a third reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tanta
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wenfeng SHI, Xueqing Chen, Yong Li, Xudong Xi, Tao Guo
  • Publication number: 20100319489
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of manufacturing metal nanoparticles, and more particularly to an apparatus including: a precursor supplying part which supplies a precursor solution of metal nanoparticles; a first heating part which is connected with the precursor supplying part, includes a reactor channel having a diameter of 1 to 50 mm, and is heated to the temperature range where any particle is not produced; a second heating part which is connected with the first heating part, includes a reactor channel having a diameter of 1 to 50 mm, and is heated to the temperature range where particles are produced; and a cooler which is connected with the second heating part and collects and cools metal nanoparticles produced at the second heating part which allows continuous mass production of metal nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Il LEE, Jae-Woo Joung, Byung-Ho Jun, Joon-Rak Choi, Kwi-Jong Lee