Rapid conversion of metal-containing compounds to form metals or metal alloys
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for converting a metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to form the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound, comprising:
- feeding the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound substantially axially into a reaction chamber, heating the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at a rate of between about 100°
C./second to about 100,000,000°
C./second to an elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the metal-containing or the metal alloy-containing compound thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metal or metal alloy, and holding the metal-containing compound at the elevated temperature for a residence time sufficient to convert the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound into at least the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound;
wherein the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound travels substantially axially through the reaction chamber.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of converting metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compounds into a metal or metal alloy by rapidly heating the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to an elevated temperature to instigate conversion and holding the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at the elevated temperature for a time sufficient to effect formation of the metal or metal alloy is an efficient and economical method of producing metals and metal alloys.
42 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for converting a metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to form the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound, comprising:
-
feeding the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound substantially axially into a reaction chamber, heating the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at a rate of between about 100°
C./second to about 100,000,000°
C./second to an elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the metal-containing or the metal alloy-containing compound thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metal or metal alloy, andholding the metal-containing compound at the elevated temperature for a residence time sufficient to convert the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound into at least the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound;
wherein the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound travels substantially axially through the reaction chamber.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for converting a metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to form the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound, comprising:
-
heating the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at a rate of between about 100°
C./second to about 100,000,000°
C./second to an elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metal or metal alloy;
holding the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at the elevated temperature for a residence time sufficient to convert a portion of the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound into at least one precursor of the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound;
heating the precursor to a second elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the precursor thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metal or metal alloy; and
holding the precursor at the second elevated temperature to convert substantially all of the precursor into at least the metal of the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound.
-
-
12. A method for converting a metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to form the metal of the metal-containing compound or the metal alloy of the metal alloy-containing compound, comprising:
-
heating the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at a rate of between about 100°
C./second to about 100,000,000°
C./second to an elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metal or metal alloy;
holding the metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at the elevated temperature for a residence time sufficient to convert the metal-containing or the metal alloy-containing compound into at least one precursor metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound;
heating the precursor metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound to a second elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the precursor metal-containing or metal-alloy containing compound thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metal or metal alloy; and
holding the precursor metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound at the second elevated temperature to convert substantially all of the precursor metal-containing or metal alloy-containing compound into the metal or the precursor metal alloy-containing compound into the metal alloy.
-
-
13. A method for converting an oxalate selected from the group consisting of the Group VIII, Group IVA, Group IVB, Group VB, Group VIB metals, and combinations thereof, to form the metal or metal alloy of the metallic oxalate comprising:
-
heating the metallic oxalate in a substantially non-oxidizing atmosphere at a rate of between about 100°
C./second to about 100,000,000°
C./second to an elevated temperature that makes the conversion of the metallic oxalate thermodynamically favorable, but is less than the melting point of the metallic oxalate, andholding the metallic oxalate at the elevated temperature for a residence time sufficient to convert the metallic oxalate into at least the metal of the metallic oxalate or the metal alloy of the metallic oxalate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification