Abstract: A process for manufacturing a compound in powder form, wherein said compound is the reaction product of (i) at least one metal and/or metalloid, and (ii) at least one further element that is more electronegative than the metal and/or metalloid, which process includes steps of: mixing at least one oxide of said at least one metal and/or metalloid with a reducing agent including Ca or Mg granules or powder, and/or calcium hydride or magnesium hydride in granule or powder form, to form a mixture; exposing the mixture to a source of said at least one further element; maintaining said mixture under a H2 atmosphere at a temperature of from 950° C. to 1500° C. for 1-10 hours; and, recovering said compound in powder form; wherein said at least one further element is selected from carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon and mixtures thereof. A compound in powder form obtainable by such a process.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a compound in powder form, wherein said compound is the reaction product of (i) at least one metal and/or metalloid, and (ii) at least one further element that is more electronegative than the metal and/or metalloid, which process includes steps of: mixing at least one oxide of said at least one metal and/or metalloid with a reducing agent including Ca or Mg granules or powder, and/or calcium hydride or magnesium hydride in granule or powder form, to form a mixture; exposing the mixture to a source of said at least one further element; maintaining said mixture under a H2 atmosphere at a temperature of from 950° C. to 1500° C. for 1-10 hours; and, recovering said compound in powder form; wherein said at least one further element is selected from carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon and mixtures thereof. A compound in powder form obtainable by such a process.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing metal containing powder, the process including the steps of: (a) mixing at least one metal oxide powder with Ca or Mg granules and/or calcium hydride in granule or powder form to form a mixture; (b) maintaining said mixture under an H2 atmosphere, at a temperature between 1000° C. and 1500° C. for 1-10 hours, followed by: (c) recovering metal containing powder. Metal hydride powder may be recovered. The process may further include between steps (b) and (c): (d) switching the H2 atmosphere to an Ar atmosphere and maintaining the mixture thereunder for a period of 20 minutes to 5 hours, followed by: (e) cooling under Ar atmosphere, wherein metal powder is recovered in step (c).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of metal alloy powders, in particular the invention relates to a process for producing titanium metal alloys from titanium dioxide and aluminium. Optionally the process can also include the use of one or more other oxides (metal or non-metal). The result is at least a Ti—Al alloy powder. If another metal oxide is used the result is a Ti-ternary alloy powder. If SiO2 is used the result is a Ti—Al—Si alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of metal alloy powders, in particular the invention relates to a process for producing titanium metal alloys from titanium dioxide and aluminium. Optionally the process can also include the use of one or more other oxides (metal or non-metal). The result is at least a Ti—Al alloy powder. If another metal oxide is used the result is a Ti-ternary alloy powder. If SiO2 is used the result is a Ti—Al—Si alloy.

Abstract: A method of separating components from a metal based composite, the method including the steps of increasing the size of a component to be separated and separating the increased sized component from the other components of the composite.

Abstract: A method of separating components from a metal based composite, the method including the steps of increasing the size of a component to be separated and separating the increased sized component from the other components of the composite.