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Rapid conversion of metal-containing compounds to form metals or metal alloys

  • US 6,689,191 B2
  • Filed: 02/22/2001
  • Issued: 02/10/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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.

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