METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH-PURITY NIOBIUM INGOTS WITH NORMALIZED LEVEL OF ELECTROPHYSICAL PROPERTIES Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: electrometallurgy, namely processes for producing high-purity niobium ingots used in power generation plants operating with use of low-temperature superconductivity effect.

SUBSTANCE: method comprises steps of electron-beam refining of consumable niobium blank; using blank of niobium of given kind containing niobium uniformly distributed along its length and produced by iodide refining as consumable blank in order to produce niobium ingots with predetermined (in range 200 - 500) relation of specific resistances at temperature values 193K and 9.2K; determining mass relation of niobium of given kind and niobium produced by iodide refining according to relation of specific resistances at temperature values 193 K and 9.2 K with use of expression m_n/m_u = (500 - ρ₂₉₃/ρ_9.2)/(800 + 2 x ρ₂₉₃/ρ_9.2) where m_n - mass of niobium of given kind, g; m_u - mass of niobium produced by iodide refining, g; ρ₂₉₃ - specific resistance of niobium at temperature 193K, ohm x m²/m ; ρ_9.2 - specific resistance of niobium at temperature 9.2K, ohm x m²/m.

EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of process, lowered cost price of high-purity niobium ingots.

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