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: Process for the production of tantalum-niobium concentrates from low-tantalum, high-niobium raw materials with an Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 /Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 ratio of 5 to 15 in a pyrometallurgical concentration process by smelting with carbon-containing reducing agents, reductions and resmelting.

Abstract: The starting material is a vanadium-containing residue, which contains at least 5 weight percent carbon on an anhydrous basis. The residue is thermally treated in a furnace a) at temperatures from 400.degree. to 700.degree. C. under an oxidizing atmosphere and an O.sub.2 partial pressure of at least 10.sup.-4 bar, measured within the region which is occupied by the residue, and/or b) at temperatures from 500.degree. to 1300.degree. C. under an O.sub.2 partial pressure not in excess of 10.sup.-2 bar, measured within the region which is occupied by the residue. A solids mixture which contains at least 5 weight percent vanadium oxide is withdrawn from the furnace. A multiple-hearth furnace or a rotary kiln or a fluidized bed reactor containing a stationary or circulating fluidized bed may be used as a furnace for the thermal treatment.

Abstract: Ferroniobium, ferrotantalum and ferrovanadium alloys are hydrogenated to facilitate crushing then nitrided, and then acid-leached to produce a soluble iron nitride leachate and a niobium, tantalum or vanadium nitride residue which residue can be denitrided to yield the metal which can be recovered by melting.

Abstract: A process for production of vanadium-containing agglomerate, includes the steps of providing a spent, vanadium-containing, iron based hydroconversion catalyst; incinerating the spent catalyst in the presence of an oxidizer until a sulfur content of the spent catalyst is reduced to 2% or less by weight; grinding the spent catalyst to a particle size suitable for a desired use; and mixing the spent catalyst with an iron mineral and a binder to form a vanadium-containing agglomerate; and pyroconsolidating the vanadium-containing agglomerate. Agglomerates so obtained exhibit a solid solution structure of ferric oxide and vanadium pentoxide.

Abstract: In situ formation of metal-ceramic oxide microstructures is carried out on a starting oxide phase containing at least a most noble metallic component (e.g., iron) and a least noble metallic component (e.g. manganese) and subjecting the starting oxide phase to a temperature and oxygen partial pressure and for a time period to cause reduction of only part of the most noble metallic component to elemental metal.

Abstract: A process for producing a high purity tantalum powder wherein a small quantity of an active ingredient, having a higher thermodynamic potential and chemical activity than the metal surfaces of the reactor vessel, is added to the reactor before the reactor is heated to reaction temperatures.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the recovery of titanium values from a complex matrix comprising titanium nitride. The process comprises chlorinating the titanium nitride in the matrix to obtain a reaction product containing titanium chloride, and separating the titanium chloride from the reaction product. The invention also provides for the production of said complex matrix containing titanium nitride by nitriding titanium values in complex titanium-containing starting materials such as complex metallurgical titaniferous slags and ilmenite, perovskite, armalcolite and fassaite.

Abstract: A hydrogen battery alloy is prepared which is substantially free of inclusions of chromium by preparing a first precursor alloy or master alloy containing vanadium, nickel, and chromium using relatively equal amounts of vanadium and nickel and then adding from 5% to 12% by weight of chromium. The alloy materials are introduced into an aluminothermic reaction as vanadium pentoxide, nickel powder and chromium powder with the aluminum metal being in slight excess of its stoichiometric amount. The first precursor alloy described further alloyed with preselected amounts of nickel, zirconium, titanium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and chromium to form an alloy suitable for use as an electrode material in rechargeable electrochemical hydrogen storage cells.

Abstract: Improvement of Nb-alloys, which are known as heat-resistant alloys, by giving anti-oxidation property thereto and increasing the high temperature strength thereof. In addition to a determined amount of Al, one of (1) suitable amounts of Ti, Cr and V, and (2) suitable amounts of Cr and Co, are added to Nb-matrix, and a high melting temperature metal oxide such as Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is dispersed in the matrix. Preferable method of preparing the alloys is combination of mechanical alloying and subsequent hot processing.

Abstract: A metallurgical processing system for economically recovering metal values, such as columbium, tantalum, thorium, and uranium from dilute source solids, such as digestion sludges, by a series of steps including:1) slurrying the source solids with dilute hydrofluoric acid to produce a solid phase and a liquid phase containing dissolved tantalum and columbium, then extracting tantalum and/or columbium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid ion-exchange process and then, additionally;2) roasting the solid phase with sulfuric acid to recover and recycle hydrofluoric acid, leaching the roasted solids with dilute sulfuric acid to produce a disposable solid phase and a liquid phase containing thorium and uranium, and extracting thorium and uranium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid-liquid amine extraction process.

Abstract: A superconductive alloy of titanium and niobium is formed during reduction of niobium pentoxide by adding an effective quantity of titanium metal and/or titanium oxide to a reduction mixture of aluminum and niobium pentoxide. The resulting mixture is reacted to form the desired niobium titanium alloy below an aluminum oxide or aluminum oxide-titanium oxide slag. The slag is easily separated from the alloy.