Abstract: A method and system for producing an alloy using a flowing stream of superheated halide vapor to flash vaporize liquid halides forming a mixture of gases in predetermined and controllable ratios. The mixture of gases are introduced into a flowing stream of liquid alkali or alkaline earth metal or mixtures to establish a reaction zone where the mixture of gases is reduced to an alloy and a salt. The liquid metal is in a sufficient amount in excess of stoichiometric to maintain substantially all the alloy and salt below the sintering temperatures thereof away from the reaction zone. Equipment for practicing the method is also disclosed. The system relates to alloys of B, Be, Bi, C, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, Mo, Nb, P, Pb, Re, S, Sb, Si, Sn, Ta, Ti, V, W and Zr.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.

Abstract: A Ti powder is made b y the subsurface reduction of TiCl4 by a stream of liquid of sodium in excess of stoichiometric sufficient to maintain substantially all the reactive products below the sintering temperatures thereof followed by distillation to produce a powder with a packing fraction in the range of from about 4% to about 11%. Also disclosed is a solid product made from the Ti powder.

Abstract: A titanium powder or alloy powder produced by introducing a TiCl4 vapor into a continuum or flowing stream of sodium metal at a velocity not less than sonic velocity of the vapor wherein the sodium is present in an amount greater than stoichiometric sufficient to maintain substantially all the reaction products below the sintering temperature thereof and wherein said Ti powder has a packing fraction in the range of from about 4% to about 11%. The powders without fines have a particle diameter in the range of from about 3.3 to about 1.3 microns based on a calculated size of a sphere from a BET surface area in the range of from about 0.4 to about 1.0 m2/g.

Abstract: A method of producing passivated Ti or Ti alloy particles with oxygen concentrations of less than about 900 parts per million (ppm), which includes introducing a halide vapor of Ti or the metal constituents of the alloy at sonic velocity or greater into a stream of liquid alkali or liquid alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof forming a reaction zone in which the halide is reduced by the liquid metal present in sufficient excess of stoichiometric such that Ti or Ti alloy powder from the reduction of the halide by the liquid metal is friable. After filtration and distillation excess liquid metal is removed from the Ti or Ti alloy powder that is then maintained at elevated temperature for a time sufficient to grow the particles to average diameters calculated from BET surface area measurement greater than about one micron. After cooling the Ti or Ti alloy powder to temperature of about 80° C.

Abstract: A method of controlling the size and morphology of powder made by the subsurface injection of a halide vapor into a liquid metal is disclosed. A reaction zone is established and the temperature thereof or the time the powder remains therein is controlled to change powder characteristics.

Abstract: A method of increasing the apparent density of agglomerated ligmental titanium or titanium alloy powder produced by the subsurface reduction of titanium tetrachloride vapor or a mixture of titanium tetrachloride and other halide vapors in a flowing stream of alkali or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof having a first apparent density after distillation is disclosed. The agglomerated ligmental titanium or titanium alloy powder is introduced into an attriting system wherein the agglomerated ligmental titanium or titanium alloy powder is attrited until the powder becomes more spherical than ligmental and the first apparent density is increased by a factor of from about 3 to about 8. Inert atmosphere may be used to prevent unwanted oxygen contamination.

Abstract: A titanium metal or a titanium alloy having submicron titanium boride substantially uniformly dispersed therein and a method of making same is disclosed. Ti power of Ti alloy powder has dispersed within the particles forming the powder titanum boride which is other than whisker-shaped or spherical substantially uniformly dispersed therein.

Abstract: A titanium base alloy powder having lesser amounts of aluminum and vanadium with an alkali or alkaline earth metal being present in an amount of less than about 200 ppm. The alloy powder is neither spherical nor angular and flake shaped. 6/4 alloy is specifically disclosed having a packing fraction or tap density between 4 and 11%, as is a method for making the various alloys.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making alloys or ceramics by the subsurface injection of an equilibrium vapor of a boiling liquid of the ceramic or alloys constituents is disclosed. Various powders and products are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for producing an elemental material or an alloy thereof from a halide of the elemental material or halide mixtures comprising a reactor for introducing the vapor halide of an elemental material or halide mixtures thereof into a liquid phase of a reducing metal of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof present in less than or equal to the amount needed to reduce the halide vapor to the elemental material or alloy resulting in an exothermic reaction between the vapor halide and the liquid reducing metal producing particulate elemental material or alloy thereof and particulate halide salt of the reducing metal, a chamber wherein the reaction products are cooled so that substantially all the particulate elemental material or alloy remains unsintered, and a separator for separating the particulate metal or alloy reaction products from the particulate salt.

Abstract: A system and method of separating metal powder from a slurry of liquid metal and metal powder and salt is disclosed in which the slurry is introduced into a first vessel operated in an inert environment when liquid metal is separated from the metal powder and salt leaving principally salt and metal powder substantially free of liquid metal. The salt and metal powder is transferred to a second vessel operated in an inert enviroment with both enviroments being protected from contamination. Then the salt and metal powder substantially free of salt and liquid metal. The method is particularly applicable for use in the production of Ti and its alloys.

Abstract: A method of separating metal particulates form a slurry of liquid metal and metal particulates and salt particulates by filtering the slurry to form a cake of metal and salt particulates with some liquid metal. The cake is broken and liquid metal is removed by vacuum distillation or with a hot inert sweep gas at either positon or negative pressure from the broken cake, and thereafter separating the metal and salt particulates. Thereafter, the metal partucilates are sized before water washing to prevent unacceptable explosions upon contact with water.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism between a first vessel containing a slurry of liquid and solids and a second vessel with at least one of said first and second vessels being under a protective atmosphere and/or vacuum. There is a housing in communication with the first and second vessels with a screw having at least one helical thread along the longitudinal shank within the housing for transferring material between vessels. The slurry entering the housing from the first vessel has the solids therein concentrated as the slurry is transported toward the second vessel while liquid is expressed from the slurry until the concentrated solids form a plug isolating the two second vessels as solids discharge into the second vessel.

Abstract: A needle valve is disclosed for controlling the quantity of a halide vapor to be injected into a liquid metal. The needle valve may seat in a supersonic nozzle from which the halide vapor exits. Various products made with the apparatus of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of continuously producing a non-oxide ceramic formed of a metal constituent and a non-metal constituent. A salt of the metal constituent and a compound of the non-metal constituent and a compound of the non-metal constituent are introduced into a liquid alkali metal or a liquid alkaline earth metal or mixtures to react the constituents substantially submerged in the liquid metal to form ceramic particles. The liquid metal is present in excess of the stoichiometric amount necessary to convert the constituents into ceramic particles to absorb the heat of reaction to maintain the temperature of the ceramic particles below the sintering temperature. Ceramic particles made by the method are part of the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making alloys or ceramics by the subsurface injection of an equilibrium vapor of a boiling liquid of the ceramic or alloys constituents is disclosed. Various powders and products are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling the size and morphology of powder made by the subsurface injection of a halide vapor into a liquid metal is disclosed. A reaction zone is established and the temperature thereof or the time the powder remains therein is controlled to change powder characteristics.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.