Abstract: A method for making negative thermal expansion materials having the formula A 4 + ⁢ M 2 6 + ⁢ O 8 where A4+ is Zr4+, Hf4+, or mixtures thereof, and M6+ is Mo6+, W6+, or mixtures thereof, is described. The method comprises first forming an acidic, liquid mixture comprising stoichiometric amounts of (1) a soluble source of Zr4+, Hf4+, or mixtures thereof, and (2) a sodium-ion-free tungstate salt, a sodium-ion-free molybdate salt, or mixtures thereof. This liquid mixture is then heated, either at reflux temperature or in a closed system at pressures greater than ambient, to produce a solid fraction.

Abstract: A mixed oxide ceramic product is made directly from a metal alloy of titanium, zirconium and/or hafnium and niobium, tantalum or hafnium, where the normally combustible alloy of titanium and zirconium or hafnium is passivated by the addition of more than about 7 atomic percent of niobium and/or tantalum and or vanadium which alloy can then be heated in air at atmospheric pressure to a temperature of from about 800 degrees C. to about 1500 degrees C. to produce an adherent monolithic ceramic containing product.

Abstract: Methods of making high specific gravity shotgun shot and small arms projectiles from melts containing primarily tungsten and iron, and particularly including specific melting temperature depressants and using specific quenching both compositions are described and specific conditions and materials and methods for making high specific gravity shot pellets and projectiles by powder metallurgical techniques are described.

Abstract: Controllable oxidation of certain titanium zirconium alloys is achieved by utilizing minor proportions of niobium, tantalum or vanadium or mixtures thereof and articles formed therefrom can be partially oxidized to form a deep, hard monolithic oxide containing surface layer and further or completely oxidized to form a cermet or ceramic body respectively, which can be heated further to improve the ceramic bodies properties.

Abstract: Shot pellet or small arms projectile comprises 40-60% by weight of tungsten and 60-40% by weight of iron formed by sintering tungsten containing powders having median particle sizes below 6 microns to form a material consisting primary of an intermetallic compound of tungsten and iron or of a metal matrix of iron surrounding tungsten containing particles.

Abstract: Lead free shotshell pellets are disclosed which consist essentially of an alloy of iron and 30 to 46% by weight of tungsten. The shotshells may include a plurality of pellet sizes, and the pellets may be coated substantially uniformly with a polymeric coating, resin, or lubricant.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed mixture of zirconium and petroleum coke containing traces amount of radioative materials by flotation process utilizing a plurality of flotation cells. The process comprises grinding the feed mixture, slurrying the ground feed mixture with water, treating the slurry with a flotation agent and a collector for the coke and subjecting the treated slurry to air sparging and agitation to create an overflow and an underflow. The overflow is then filtered to collect substantially zircon-free coke for further processing.

Abstract: A process for separating zirconium values from hafnium values wherein an aqueous solution of ZrCl.sub.4 and HfCl.sub.4 is contacted with NH.sub.4 SCN, feeding the resultant solution into a solvent extraction system containing aqueous HCl and MIBK, separating off the solvent phase containing MIBK, HSCN, hafnium thiocyanate complex, and any decomposition products of HSCN to leave the aqueous phase raffinate containing NH.sub.4 Cl, zirconium oxide-chloride and low concentrations of HSCN, scrubbing the hafnium values from the separated solvent phase, treating the scrubbed solvent phase containing MIBK and HSCN with NH.sub.4 OH to convert the HSCN to NH.sub.4 SCN, separating the NH.sub.4 SCN from the treated solvent phase, treating the separated solvent phase to remove essentially all thiazolines, and scrubbing residual HSCN from the raffinate with the desulfurized solvent phase.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of substantially pure zirconium values from zircon sand which also contains Ra, U, Hf, Pb and other metal values, comprising contacting zircon sand in a chlorinator with a chlorination medium to form an off-gas stream containing chlorides of Zr, Hf, Si, and tract U. The off-gas stream is passed to a condenser to remove volatile Si chlorides and thereby provide a product stream containing condensed chlorides of Zr, Hf and tract U, treating the product stream in acidic aqueous medium in a separation stage to separate the principal Hf values from the principal Zr values. Adjusting the pH of the resulting effluent to between about 3 to about 7 in a second stage to precipitate the trace U values. The residue stream is treated by(A) leaching with an acidic aqueous system to solubilize the trace Ra, Pb and other metal values while settling out the unreacted zircon sand and chlorination medium, and contacting the resultant leach liquor first with Ba++ ions and then with SO.sub.

Abstract: Process for producing zirconium oxide blue-black coatings on zirconium alloy substrates by treating said alloys with molten salts containing small amounts of oxidizing compounds. The molten salts are sodium cyanide and combinations of sodium chloride and potassium chloride.