Abstract: The present invention relates to high-purity niobium monoxide powder (NbO) produced by a process of combining a mixture of higher niobium oxides and niobium metal powder or granules; heating and reacting the compacted mixture under controlled atmosphere to achieve temperature greater than about 1945° C., at which temperature the NbO is liquid; solidifying the liquid NbO to form a body of material; and fragmenting the body to form NbO particles suitable for application as capacitor anodes. The NbO product is unusually pure in composition and crystallography, and can be used for capacitors and for other electronic applications. The method of production of the NbO is robust, does not require high-purity feedstock, and can reclaim value from waste streams associated with the processing of NbO electronic components. The method of production also can be used to make high-purity NbO2 and mixtures of niobium metal/niobium monoxide and niobium monoxide/niobium dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-purity tantalum flake powder, produced by a hydride-dehydride process including: (a) cold working tantalum metal into a thin sheet; (b) hydriding the thin sheet, forming a brittle tantalum body, e.g., a foil or ribbon with an aspect ratio of greater than 5 to 1; (c) adjusting the tantalum body to a desired particle size; and (d) removing hydrogen from the tantalum body by vacuum sintering, forming a tantalum flake powder. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, tantalum flake is produced by sizing ultra-thin tantalum foil via the hydride-dehydride process. Tantalum is an extremely malleable metal and can be cold worked into extremely thin sheets less than 1 micron thick. Once hydrided, this foil is brittle, and can be easily sized by suitable milling processes. The hydrogen is removed by vacuum sintering, resulting in an extremely thin Ta metal flake.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high-purity niobium monoxide powder (NbO) produced by a process of combining a mixture of higher niobium oxides and niobium metal powder or granules; heating and reacting the compacted mixture under controlled atmosphere to achieve temperatures greater than about 1800° C., at which temperature the NbO is liquid; solidifying the liquid NbO to form a body of material; and fragmenting the body to form NbO particles suitable for application as e.g., capacitor anodes. The NbO product is unusually pure in composition and crystallography, highly dense, and can be used for capacitors and for other electronic applications. The method of production of the NbO is robust, does not require high-purity feedstock, and can reclaim value from waste streams associated with the processing of NbO electronic components.

Abstract: Vanadium-aluminum master alloys with small amounts of refractory metals such as ruthenium, are made substantially free of refractory inclusions and with a substantially homogeneous microstructure by reacting vanadium oxides with excess aluminum through an aluminothermic reduction reaction in the presence of the refractory to yield the desired master alloy. A preferred homogeneous vanadium-aluminum-ruthenium alloy without inclusions contains from about 59 to 70% of vanadium, about 29 to 40% of aluminum, and about 1 to 10% of ruthenium, all based on the weight of the alloy. The substantially homogeneous and inclusion-free master alloy is then used to produce titanium base alloys of higher quality, such as 4% vanadium and 6% aluminum titanium base alloys containing small amounts of refractory metals, usually containing from about 0.1 to 1.0% of ruthenium.

Abstract: Master alloys and methods of producing same are disclosed, wherein an intermetallic compound, for example Al.sub.3 Cb is first prepared via thermite processing, then size reduced, then mixed with other components in amounts yielding a mixture in the desired proportion for the master alloy. The mixture is compacted, then heated to produce the master alloy by fusion.

Abstract: Master alloys and methods of producing same are disclosed, wherein an intermetallic compound is first prepared via thermite processing, then size reduced, then mixed with other components in amounts yielding a mixture in the desired proportion for the master alloy. The mixture is compacted, then heated to produce the master alloy, which is used for making Nickel-based alloys used, (for example), in hydrogen battery electrodes.

Abstract: Master alloys and methods of producing same are disclosed, wherein an intermetallic compound, for example Al.sub.3 Cb is first prepared via thermite processing, then size reduced, then mixed with other components in amounts yielding a mixture in the desired proportion for the master alloy. The mixture is compacted, then heated to produce the master alloy by fusion.

Abstract: Ferrovanadium carbide addition agents comprising 75 to 85% vanadium, 8 to 12% carbon, 8 to 12% iron, less than 2% oxygen and having a density of from about 5.8 to about 6.2. The addition agents are produced by fusing vanadium oxide, iron and carbon at about 1700.degree. C. to about 2100.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is provided for the aluminothermic production of low nitrogen containing chromium and chromium alloys, said chromium alloys comprising about 80% chromium, about 20% nickel and less than 0.005% nitrogen, said alloys being especially desirable for use as master alloys in production of super alloys where levels of nitrogen imparted by chromium alloying elements are critical.

Abstract: This invention relates to molybdenum-titanium-zirconium aluminum master alloys containing about 20 to 25% molybdenum, about 1 to 5% titanium, about 40 to 50% zirconium, balance aluminum and not more than about 0.004% nitrogen.

Abstract: This invention relates to molybdenum-titanium-zirconium-aluminum master alloys containing about 35 to 40 molybdenum, about 1 to 5% titanium, about 15 to 25% zirconium, balance aluminum and not more than about 0.004% nitrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to master alloys containing about 55 to about 70% tungsten, about 2 to about 10% titanium, balance substantially aluminum.

Abstract: Carbide addition agents comprising (a) from about 20 to about 60 atomic percent of carbon, (b) from about 25 to about 60 atomic percent of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium and columbium, and (c) from about 10 to about 40 atomic percent of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and manganese, are useful alloy addition agents for steel.