PRODUCTION OF NIOBIUM-ALUMINUM INTERMETALLIC COMPOUND

摘要

PURPOSE: To obtain an Nb-Al intermetallic compd. in a high yield by coating the surface of Nb powder of a specified particle diameter with Al in a specified thickness and heating the coated powder with a plasma jet. CONSTITUTION: The surface of Nb powder of 20-70μm average particle diameter is coated with Al in 1-10μm average thickness and the coated powder is heated with a plasma jet. In the case of <=20μm average particle diameter of the Nb powder, the feedability of the powder is low. In the case of >70μm, unreacted Nb remains in the core part and yield is reduced. The average particle diameter is preferably 30-40μm. In the case of <1μm average thickness of the Al coating layer, the remaining of unreacted Nb is not avoided and yield is reduced. In the case of >10μm, the desired high m.p. cannot be ensured for the resultant Nb-Al intermetallic compd. The average thickness is preferably regulated to 2-5μm.