METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF NIOBIUM POWDERS Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC C22B34/24 B22F9/04 B22F9/16 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to production of highly pure niobium powder using hydride method. The method includes activation of niobium ingot by heating up to 700-900°C, its hydrogenation using saturated titanium hydride as hydrogen source, grinding of obtained niobium hydride to prescribed despersivity degree and dehydrogenation of obtained niobium powder using unsaturated titanium hydride. Niobium ingot is activated by heating under overpressure of 0.01-0.3 MPa in hydrogen atmosphere generated by hydrogen desorption from saturated hydride of multi-component intermetallic compound La_1-yR_yNi₄Co where R designates rare-earth metals of cerium group and/or mishmetal, 0<y≤1, while hydrogenation of niobium ingot being initiated by hydrogen. Simultaneously with activation of niobium ingot, saturated titanium hydride is heated to its decomposition temperature with release of hydrogen and when hydrogen overpressure of 0.2-0.2 MPa is reached, started hydrogenation of niobium ingot is continued with hydrogen released during decomposition of titanium hydride.

EFFECT: shortened hydrogenation and dehydrogenation duration, increased process safety and lowered hydrogen losses.

3 dwg, 1 tbl, 2 ex