METHOD OF PRODUCING TANTALUM POWDER Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC C22B34/24 B22F9/04 B22F9/16 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to production of high-purity tantalum hydride powder using a method. Method involves activation of a tantalum ingot by heating to 700-900°C, hydrogenation using saturated titanium hydride as hydrogen source, grinding produced tantalum hydride to given dispersity and dehydrogenation of tantalum powder obtained using unsaturated titanium hydride. Activation of tantalum ingot by heating is carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere at pressure of 0.01-0.3 MPa, which is produced by desorption of hydrogen from a saturated hydride of a multicomponent intermetallic compound La_1-yR_yNi₄Co, where R denotes rare earth metals of cerium group and/or mischmetal, 0 < y ≤ 1, to provide beginning of hydrogenation of tantalum ingot with hydrogen. Simultaneously with activation of tantalum ingot, saturated titanium hydride is heated to its decomposition with release of hydrogen and upon achieving excess pressure of hydrogen of 0.2-0.3 MPa, continuing initiated hydrogenation of tantalum ingot with hydrogen released during decomposition of titanium hydride.

EFFECT: reduced duration of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, safer process and reduced loss of hydrogen.

1 cl, 3 dwg, 1 tbl, 2 ex