Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method comprises dissolving a sulfide of a first metal in a solvent comprising molten aluminum; aluminothermically reduce at least a portion of the sulfide through reactive vacuum distillation to form gaseous aluminum sulfide distillate and elemental first metal that remains in the molten aluminum; and at least one of (e.g., one, two, or all three of) (a) reacting the aluminum sulfide distillate with at least one material in the molten aluminum; (b) reacting the aluminum sulfide distillate with at least one material outside of the molten aluminum; or (c) condensing the gaseous aluminum sulfide distillate.

Abstract: A ceramic composite and a method of preparing the same are provided. The method of preparing the ceramic composite includes mixing an aluminum slag and a carbon accelerator to obtain a mixture and reacting the mixture at a temperature equal to or greater than 1600° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere to obtain a ceramic composite. The aluminum slag includes aluminum, oxygen, nitrogen, and magnesium. The weight ratio of the oxygen to the aluminum is 0.6 to 2. The weight ratio of the nitrogen to the aluminum is 0.1 to 1.2. The weight ratio of the magnesium to the aluminum is 0.04 to 0.2. The ceramic composite includes aluminum nitride accounting for at least 90 wt % of the ceramic composite.

Abstract: A method for preparing a reference electrode and a lithium ion battery with a reference electrode. In some embodiments, a method includes the following steps: welding a reference electrode substrate to a lower portion of a current collector metal sheet with a tab-film; melting metal lithium into a liquid state; immersing a lower portion of the reference electrode substrate welded with the current collector metal sheet into the liquid lithium; coating a lower portion of the tab-film with a layer of separator to obtain a reference electrode with a separator coating; inserting the reference electrode between a separator of a core of a lithium ion battery and an anode piece; and packaging in plastic the lithium ion battery implanted with the reference electrode to obtain the lithium ion battery with the reference electrode.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inerting the surface of a metal charge in an induction furnace. The process generally involves use of a porous plug positioned near the surface of the metal charge. Argon (or other blanket gases) is flushed through the porous plug to back fill the volume of the induction furnace above the metal charge with an inert gas.

Abstract: A method of producing high purity lithium metal is provided, where gaseous-phase lithium metal is extracted from lithium hydride and condensed to form solid high purity lithium metal. The high purity lithium metal may be hydrided to provide high purity lithium hydride.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for extracting hydrogen from lithium hydride. The apparatus includes a container for melting lithium hydride and a vacuum source for extracting hydrogen from the molten lithium hydride. A source of hydrogen may be provided to re-hydride the lithium metal, such that the apparatus provides a rechargeable source of hydrogen. A method of producing high purity lithium metal is also provided, where gaseous-phase lithium metal is extracted from lithium hydride and condensed to form solid high purity lithium metal. The high purity lithium metal may be hydrided to provide high purity lithium hydride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing alkali and alkaline earth alloys. It also relates to the use of the alkali and alkaline earth compositions. In order to create a novel method for producing alkali and alkaline earth alloys, it is proposed within the context of the invention that salts, hydroxides, alkoxides or oxides of alkali or alkaline earth compounds be mixed with salts, hydroxides, alkoxides or oxides of semi-metals, nonmetals or metals and then heated to at least 100° C., the salts, hydroxides, alkoxides or oxides of alkali or alkaline earth metals being present in a molar ratio of 1:1 or in excess thereof in relation to the salts, hydroxide, alkoxides or oxides of the semi-metals, nonmetals or metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing potassium and potassium compounds

Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

Abstract: Disclosed are cover gas compositions comprising fluoroolefins for impeding the oxidation of molten nonferrous metals and alloys, such as magnesium. The cover gas compositions can include at least one fluoroolefin and a carrier gas.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing Ti or a Ti alloy through reduction of TiCl4 by Ca, which can produce the high-purity metallic Ti or high-purity Ti alloy. A molten salt containing CaCl2 and having Ca dissolved therein is held in a reactor vessel, and a metallic chloride containing TiCl4 is reacted with Ca in the molten salt to generate Ti particles or Ti alloy particles in a molten CaCl2 solution, which allows enhancement of a feed rate of TiCl4 which is of a raw material of Ti, and also allows a continuous operation. Therefore, the high-purity metallic Ti or the high-purity Ti alloy can economically be produced with high efficiency. Further, the method by the present invention eliminates the need of replenishment of expensive metallic Ca and of the operation for separately handling Ca which is highly reactive and difficult to handle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a technical sodium purification method consisting of placing liquid sodium in contact at a temperature greater than or equal to 150° C., inside a static mixer, with an inert gas stream with respect to the sodium containing the stoechiometric quantity of water vapour required to oxidise calcium so as to lower its content to the desired content, and then separating the purified sodium from the inert gas, and the hydrogen and lime produced by the reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preventing the ignition of molten magnesium by contacting the molten magnesium with a gaseous mixture comprising a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of perfluoroketones, hydrofluoroketones, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining metals from oxides using shuttle alloys, particularly titanium metal from titanium dioxide in the form of illmenite rutile. The process can be adapted to obtain elemental metal or alloys of metals such as zirconium, chronium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, lithium, cobalt and zinc. The process of the present invention comprises two stages, a first stage in which a metal oxide is reduced in the presence of primary shuttle material, which forms a shuttle alloy with the reduced metals, and a second stage wherein the reduced metal is separated from the shuttle alloy as a metal or alloy. Typically the primary shuttle material comprises bismuth or antimony or a mixture of the two and optionally lead. The reduction reaction may be carried out by chemical means or electrochemical means or by a combination of the two.

Abstract: A method for removing oxides from a liquid metal heat exchange fluid following the initial startup of the heat exchange system fixes oxygen by locating an oxygen scavenging material in a drain tank. During initial fabrication and periods of maintenance metal surfaces of the conduits, heat exchange elements and other equipment become coated with an oxide layer. This invention eliminates the need for the sacrificial traps in the circulating system that are used to remove this initial oxide loading by placing an oxygen scavenging material in the drain tank. The drain tank is ordinarily provided to retain the inventory of liquid metal when it is not circulating in the heat exchange volume. A simple drain down of the liquid metal inventory can thereby remove from the liquid metal inventory essentially all of the oxide impurities that usually accompany an initial startup of such a system.

Abstract: A process for recovering Na from a spent NaS cell, includes the steps of forming an opening in a spent NaS cell, flowing down molten Na from an interior of the NaS cell through the opening in a heating oil vessel, passing the molten Na through a filter placed in the heating oil vessel to remove metallic powder, collecting the molten Na in a bottom portion of the heating oil vessel by utilizing a difference in specific gravity between the molten Na and an oil, and taking out the Na from an outer side of the filter.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating calcium and nitrogen from lithium, in which alumina is added to molten lithium and reacts to produce aluminum and lithium oxide. The aluminum reacts with the nitrogen in the lithium to produce insoluble aluminum nitride, while the lithium oxide reacts with the calcium present to produce insoluble calcium oxide and lithium. The insoluble calcium oxide and aluminum nitride may then be separated from the molten lithium, such as by filtration.