Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.

Abstract: Processes for producing low nitrogen, essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys include charging elements or compounds which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace, melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure, and effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner. The processes also include, upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt, bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping, and tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Processes for producing low nitrogen, essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys include charging elements or compounds which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace, melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure, and effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner. The processes also include, upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt, bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping, and tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Processes for producing low nitrogen, essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys include charging elements or compounds which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace, melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure, and effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner. The processes also include, upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt, bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping, and tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Refined niobium-based ferroalloys are provided by removing lead and other impurities therefrom by a process comprising charging niobium ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide or a mixture of niobium oxides to a metallothermic reaction chamber, admixing the ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide with a reducing agent, initiating a metallothermic reaction, under reduced pressure; and allowing the reaction product to solidify and cool; crushing the reaction product or crushing the niobium-based ferroalloy previously reduced in open air, and charging the crushed product to a melting crucible within a vacuum induction melting furnace, lowering the pressure within the furnace to below 1 mbar, and melting the crushed product while vaporizing the impurities contained therein.

Abstract: Refined niobium-based ferroalloys are provided by removing lead and other impurities therefrom by a process comprising charging niobium ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide or a mixture of niobium oxides to a metallothermic reaction chamber, admixing the ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide with a reducing agent, initiating a metallothermic reaction, under reduced pressure; and allowing the reaction product to solidify and cool; crushing the reaction product or crushing the niobium-based ferroalloy ore concentrate previously reduced in open air, and charging the crushed product to a melting crucible within a vacuum induction melting furnace, lowering the pressure within the furnace to below 1 mbar, and melting the crushed product while vaporizing the impurities contained therein.

Abstract: Refined niobium-based ferroalloys are provided by removing lead and other impurities therefrom by a process comprising charging niobium ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide or a mixture of niobium oxides to a metallothermic reaction chamber, admixing the ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide with a reducing agent, initiating a metallothermic reaction, under reduced pressure; and allowing the reaction product to solidify and cool; crushing the reaction product or crushing the niobium-based ferroalloy previously reduced in open air, and charging the crushed product to a melting crucible within a vacuum induction melting furnace, lowering the pressure within the furnace to below 1 mbar, and melting the crushed product while vaporizing the impurities contained therein.

Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.

Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.

Abstract: Processes for producing low nitrogen, essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys include charging elements or compounds which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace, melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure, and effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner. The processes also include, upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt, bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping, and tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.

Abstract: Processes for producing low nitrogen, essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys include charging elements or compounds which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace, melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure, and effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner. The processes also include, upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt, bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping, and tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Processes for producing low nitrogen, essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys include charging elements or compounds which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace, melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure, and effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner. The processes also include, upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt, bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping, and tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.