| 摘要 |
The process for producing crushed zirconium sponge having particle configurations which enhance its compactability, wherein conventionally produced, as-reduced, non-sintered zirconium sponge pieces are loaded into a vacuum furnace, the furnace is heated under partial vacuum at a temperature of up to about 400 DEG C. for a sufficient period to essentially demoisturize and degas the sponge, the temperature is raised to at least about 700 DEG C. and the vacuum terminated, H2 is fed in a carefully controlled manner into the furnace over a period of several hours in a total amount comprising from about 0.05 to about 0.8% by weight of the sponge, the furnace is cooled, the cooled sponge is pacified, the sponge is removed from the furnace and crushed, the crushed sponge is loaded into a vacuum furnace, the furnace is heated at from about 950 DEG C. to about 1100 DEG C. under partial vacuum for a sufficient period to dehydride the sponge, and the dehydrided sponge, now of enhanced compactability, is cooled and recovered.
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