摘要 |
Metal powders of agglomerated form having a uniform specific surface area for various size fractions thereof in a size spectrum extending from 3 microns to 10 mesh are produced by heating a charge of a salt source of the metal, pre-coated with reducing agent, to initiate an exothermic reduction reaction and continuing application of heat after termination of the exotherm heat output to modify powder size and agitating the reaction charge substantially throughout and further heating periods to maintain homogeneity. The charge may be diluted with inert salts to modify the necessary minimum hold temperature and the properties of resultant powders. The metal may comprise one or more of tantalum, columbium, zirconium, vanadium, hafnium, tungsten, titanium, thorium, chromium, yttrium, rare earths, germanium, manganese, beryllium, boron, iron, nickel and platinum group metals.
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