Abstract: The allows: Ta—Si, Nb—Si, TaN—Si, NbN—Si and variants are used as enhanced powder anode substrates for electrolytic capacitor anodes (sintered powder masses) with dielectric oxide formation at walls of the internal pores.

Abstract: An anode is described that has a niobium-based barrier layer, which includes a niobium metal core, a conducting niobium suboxide layer and a dielectric barrier layer of niobium pentoxide.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of tungsten and/or molybdenum metal powder or carbide by reducing and optionally carburizing treatment of tungsten and/or molybdenum oxide powder in the presence of alkali metal compounds, wherein at least two alkali metal compounds are used in a ratio so that mixed alkali tungstate or molybdate potentially formed in an intermediate step ((Li, Na, K)2 WOZ, (Li, Na, K)2MoOZ) has a melting point of less than 550° C., wherein z is from 3 to 4.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of extracting anions based on metals of groups IV B to VIII of the periodic table from aqueous solutions thereof, wherein compounds of general formula are used as extractants, in which a maximum of two of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 substituents represent hydrogen atoms and the remaining substituents represent identical or different alkyl or aminoakyl groups, which are optionally branched and which contain on average at least 5 C atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to basic cobalt(II) carbonate, agglomerated from fine primary particles and of general composition Co[(OH)2]a[CO3]1−a, where 0.1≦a≦0.9, and to spheroidal cobalt(II) hydroxide, to a process for producing them and to their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cutting tool insert consisting of a tungsten carbide based hard metal substrate and a coating. The hard metal consists of about 4-15 wt-% binder phase with face centered cubic structure and a composition of 35-65 wt-% Fe and 35-65 wt-% Ni in addition to dissolved elements. As a result, inserts have been produced with at least as good performance in machining as conventional state-of-the-art inserts with Co-based binder phase. The insert can be applied in milling and turning of low and medium alloyed steels as well as stainless steels.

Abstract: The allows: Ta—Si, Nb—Si, TaN—Si, NbN—Si and variants are used as enhanced powder anode substrates for electrolytic capacitor anodes (sintered powder masses) with dielectric oxide formation at walls of the internal pores.

Abstract: A process for producing sintered pellets made from blends of refractory metal and refractory metal nitride powders were found to have a higher fraction of intra-agglomerate pores than those made from the refractory metal or refractory metal nitride alone resulting in improved capacitor grade powders, anodes and finished capacitors therefrom. The pellet porosity and total intrusion volume maximizes when the mixture is in the 50-75 W/W % refractory metal nitride range. The total pellet pore surface area was found to be relatively independent of refractory metal nitride concentration above 50%. A substrate consisting of a 50/50 or 25/75 W/W % refractory metal/refractory metal nitride powder mixture should produce solid capacitors with higher capacitance recovery and lower ESR.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of metallic and metal-ceramic composite components by powder injection molding of a system comprising a metal composite powder, a binder and optionally a ceramic component, where the metal composite powder used is mixed with a protecting liquid in an inert atmosphere before the mixing with the binder. The invention furthermore relates to molybdenum/copper and tungsten/copper composite powders which have a primary metal particle size of predominantly <2 &mgr;m, an oxygen content of <0.8% by weight and optionally a ceramic component, to the use of these composite powders for the production of composite components by powder injection molding, and to a process for the preparation of composite powders in which oxides of molybdenum or tungsten and of copper are mixed, dry-ground and reduced using hydrogen at a temperature of from 800 to 1050° C., and a ceramic component is optionally admixed with the resultant metal composite powder.

Abstract: Metal powder Ta and/or Nb, with or without one or metals from the group Ta, Nb, Ti, Mo, W, V, Zr and Hf, is made in a fine powder form by reduction of metal oxide by contact with a gaseous reducing agent, preferably an alkaline earth metal, to near complete reduction, leaching, further deoxidation and agglomeration, the powder so produced being sinterable to capacitor anode form and processable to other usages.

Abstract: A process for producing sintered pellets made from blends of refractory metal and refractory metal nitride powders were found to have a higher fraction of intra-agglomerate pores than those made from the refractory metal or refractory metal nitride alone resulting in improved capacitor grade powders, anodes and finished capacitors therefrom. The pellet porosity and total intrusion volume maximizes when the mixture is in the 50-75 W/W % refractory metal nitride range. The total pellet pore surface area was found to be relatively independent of refractory metal nitride concentration above 50%. A substrate consisting of a 50/50 or 25/75 W/W % refractory metal/refractory metal nitride powder mixture should produce solid capacitors with higher capacitance recovery and lower ESR.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing niobium(V) alkoxides and tantalum(V) alkoxides, in particular niobium(V) ethoxide and tantalum(V) ethoxide, by reacting NbCl5 or TaCl5 with an appropriate alcohol in the presence of ammonia, wherein NbCl5 or TaCl5 is dissolved at a temperature of from about 0° C. to −50° C. in the alcohol containing from about 5 to about 7 mol of ammonia per mol of NbCl5 or TaCl5 to be reacted.

Abstract: A method of making sheet bar and other precursors of formed products to be made by extensive working. The method includes providing a powder metal, preferably under 100 PPM oxygen content of non-spherical particles, compacting the powder into a coherent precursor form of at least 100 pounds, whereby a precursor is provided enabling extended fabrication to a finished product form. The finished product is resistant to breakup in fabrication due to oxide inclusion effect and produces a low oxygen end product. The method can process multiple species of metals that include at least one higher melting metal and one lower melting metal to produce an alloy or micro-composite of the metals as worked, where one metal is preferably a refractory metal (Ta, Nb, W, Wo, Zr, Hf, V and Re). The process is controlled to cause powder of the higher melting metal to be extended into a fibrous form.

Abstract: Metal nitride compound powder substrate for capacitor anodic oxide film and the substrate interface therebetween, characterized, relative to un-nitrided analogs, by reduced temperature bias and frequency dependencies of capacitance, the substrate-anodic oxide interface being substantially insensitive to heating compared to the un-nitrided analog.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing lithium transition metalates of the general formula (I): Lix(M1yM21−y)nOnz, where M1 represents lithium, cobalt or manganese; M2 represents cobalt, iron, manganese or aluminium and is not equal to M1; n is equal to 2 if M1=M, and 1 in all other cases; x is a number between 0.9 and 1.2; y is a number between 0.5 and 1.0; and z is a number between 1.9 and 2.1. According to the method, an intimate solid mixture is produced of oxygen-containing compounds of the transition metals and oxygen-containing lithium compounds and this mixture calcinated in a reactor, whereby calcination takes place at least partly at an absolute pressure of less than 0.5 bar.

Abstract: A method (10) of forming sputtering target (11) from ingots of tantalum or niobium of requisite purity by the process of cutting the ingot to short lengths (12) and pressure working (14, 22, 30, 34) the ingot along alternating essentially orthogonal work axes. Intermediate anneals (18, 26, 38) are applied as necessary to establish a uniform texture thickness-wise and area-wide throughout the target, including the center. The uniform texture is a substantially constant mix of grains with orientation {100} and {111}, thereby improving sputtering performance by providing a more predictable sputter rate to control film thickness.

Abstract: Refractory metal products, such as tantalum on non-refractory conductive metal backings, e.g. copper, can be rejuvenated after metal consumption in selected zones by powder filling the zones and high energy heating at high scan speed to sinter the added powder, without complete melting of the powder fill, thus establishing a microstructure consistent with the balance of the reclaimed product and avoiding the separation of the copper backing and tantalum sputter plate. The rejuvenation method can be applied to non-mounted refractory metal products that are subject to non-uniform erosion, etching, chipping or other metal loss. The form of such refractory metal products can be as plate, rod, cylinder, block or other forms apart from sputter targets. The process can be applied to, for example, x-ray disks or targets (molybdenum plate on carbon backing).

Abstract: A method of making sheet bar and other precursors of formed products to be made by extensive working. The method includes providing a powder metal, preferably under 100 PPM oxygen content of non-spherical particles, compacting the powder into a coherent precursor form of at least 100 pounds, whereby a precursor is provided enabling extended fabrication to a finished product form. The finished product is resistant to breakup in fabrication due to oxide inclusion effect and produces a low oxygen end product. The method can process multiple species of metals that include at least one higher melting metal and one lower melting metal to produce an alloy or micro-composite of the metals as worked, where one metal is preferably a refractory metal (Ta, Nb, W, Wo, Zr, Hf, V and Re). The process is controlled to cause powder of the higher melting metal to be extended into a fibrous form.

Abstract: Production of low oxygen forms of tantalum and other refractory metals providing hydrided powder of the metal, forming a tube (10), pouring the metal into the tube, dehydriding the powder in the tube and sealing the tube and extruding to form a rod encased in the tube and further fabricating the rod.

Abstract: Tantalum scrap of high oxygen content is recovered and processed to metallurgical grade tantalum by fine participation. Blending with carbon or other appropriate solid reducing agent, melting in a plasma furnace (20) at about tantalum melt temperature while suppressing partial pressure of tantalum oxide gas to minimize tantalum loss of the process.