Fine grain recrystallised niobium or tantalum sheet containing silicon produced by melting followed by thermo-mechanical processing

摘要

A method of making a silicon-containing alloy of niobium or tantalum that includes: A) forming a blend comprising niobium or tantalum powder and silicon powder and pressing the blend to form pressed blend; B) attaching the pressed blend to an electrode comprising niobium or tantalum; C) melting the electrode and pressed blend under vacuum arc remelting conditions, such that the blend mixes with the melted electrode; D) cooling the melted electrode to form an alloy ingot; and E) applying thermo-mechanical processing steps to the alloy ingot to form a wrought product. The method provides a fully recrystalized niobium or tantalum wrought product with a grain size finer that ASTM 9, that can be used to make deep drawn cups and sputtering targets.