Abstract: A process for the production of alkali metal amides is provided wherein liquid ammonia is reacted with an alkali metal under moderate pressure in the presence of an alkali metal azide as catalyst.

Abstract: Anhydrous magnesium chloride may be prepared for magnesium chloride hydrate by the following sequence of process steps:A. mixing together a magnesium chloride hydrate said hydrate containing minor amounts of water soluble sulfate and boron compounds as impurities with diethyl ether of tetraethylene glycol to prepare 0.1 - 6.0% by weight slurry of MgCl.sub.2 in the diethyl ether of tetraethylene glycol and an azeotropic agent having a boiling point less than the diethyl ether of tetraethylene glycol in a quantity sufficient to remove water from said slurry;B. distilling water from said slurry wherein an anhydrous solution of MgCl.sub.2 in diethyl ether of tetraethylene glycol containing the water soluble sulfate and boron compounds as insoluble impurities is formed;C. separating said MgCl.sub.2 solution from the insoluble impurities;D. adding to the MgCl.sub.2 solution about 3.0 moles of ethylene glycol per mole of MgCl.sub.2 present so as to prepare a MgCl.sub.2.3 moles ethylene glycol complex precipitate;E.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing alpha silicon nitride powder in which very high purity, liquid silicon tetrachloride is reacted with an excess of ammonia gas in dry deoxygenated benzene or normal hexane at about 0.degree.C, yielding a precipitate of silicon diimide and ammonium chloride. After removal of the benzene or n-hexane from the precipitate, the mixture of silicon diimide and ammonium chloride powder is heated under a vacuum from room temperature to a temperature in the range of 1200.degree. to 1350.degree.C and maintained at the latter temperature for a period of about 2 to 8 hours. The product obtained is a high purity, submicron, alpha phase silicon nitride powder which is eminently suitable for the fabrication of dense, high strength, creep resistant and thermal shock resistant bodies for use in high performance gas turbine engines and in radome applications.