Abstract: A method for producing metal powder is provided the comprising supplying a molten bath containing a reducing agent, contacting a metal oxide with the molten bath for a time and at a temperature sufficient to reduce the metal in the metal oxide to elemental metal and produce free oxygen; and isolating the elemental metal from the molten bath.

Abstract: A process for producing titanium metal sponge from an exothermic reaction between titanium tetrachloride vapor and molten magnesium vapor, and reclaiming reactive metals from by-products of the exothermic reaction.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage bed system which includes a pressure container, a hydrogen storage alloy disposed within the pressure container, and an integrated thermal management system integrally disposed within the pressure container. The integrated thermal management system includes heat generation means, cooling means, and heat distribution means.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage bed system which includes a pressure container, a hydrogen storage alloy disposed within the pressure container, and an integrated thermal management system integrally disposed within the pressure container. The integrated thermal management system includes heat generation means, cooling means adapted to use an aerosol coolant, and heat distribution means.

Abstract: Titanium based metal matrix composites reinforced with ceramic particulate are well known, based on a blend of titanium alloy powders with ceramic powders, e.g., aluminum oxide powders, utilizing a low energy ball milling process, followed by cold compacting and sintering to produce an appropriate composite. This prior art process is disadvantaged from the point of view that there are virtually no particles in the blend below the micrometer size range, which lack has a deleterious effect on the subsequent processing of the composite. This problem has been overcome by utilizing dry high energy intensive milling in the process, which has the effect of providing the necessary number of small particles below the micrometer size range as well as enhancing the reactivity of different particles with one another.

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: Titanium metal is produced using titanium dioxide as the starting material. A molten metal collection pool is first prepared in a reaction vessel from zinc and calcium. A molten salt mixture is then added to the vessel comprised of a mixture of calcium chloride and calcium fluoride. The titanium oxide starting material is then added along with additional calcium and the contents are mechanically stirred while maintaining at a temperature of about 800.degree. C. The titanium reacts spontaneously with the calcium, producing titanium powder and calcium oxide. The titanium becomes embedded in the molten zinc pool and settles to the bottom of the vessel, where it is removed and the titanium separated from the zinc by vacuum distillation or a suitable electrochemical process. The same process applies for producing zirconium from zirconium dioxide.

Abstract: In a method for producing a multi-component hydrogen storage alloy including metals of zirconium or vanadium, oxides of these metals is used to produce an alloy having characteristics equivalent to that produced with pure metals. It comprises steps of calcining the raw material, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconium and vanadium is included in its oxide form, at a temperature ranging from 900.degree. C. to 1300.degree. C., mixing metal calcium with said calcined raw material, and treating the mixture with heat at a temperature ranging from the melting point of metal calcium to 1300.degree. C., under inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: Utilization of inherent fractional distillation of magnesium and magnesium chloride in reduction to sponge metal in a vacuum distillation furnace of zirconium and/or hafnium or other refractory metal tetrachloride by the Kroll process, to separate magnesium from magnesium chloride and metal subchlorides so the magnesium can be recycled in the process substantially free of the magnesium chloride and metal subchlorides. The magnesium vapor from the distillation furnace is recovered and condensed separately from the magnesium chloride and refractory metal sub-chloride vapors.

Abstract: A process for the deoxidation of a refractory metal containing minor concentrations of oxygen is disclosed. In this process the refractory metal is contacted with a metallic deoxidant in a dry, inert atmosphere. The metallic deoxidant and the refractory metal are heated to at least liquefy the metallic deoxidant and at least partially deoxidize the refractory metal. The refractory metal is thereafter cooled and contaminants on its surface are removed.