GB942019A - Refractory metal alloys and the production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Consumable electrodes for the production of homogenous refractory metal base alloys comprise a solid compact of discrete particles of virgin refractory material which has not been exposed to oxygen prior to compaction and of other metals or alloys. The electrodes may be made in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 in which a halide of the refractory base metal is fed through tube 16 into a molten bath of alkali and/or alkaline earth halide contained in reactor 10 and heated externally at 14. The reactor is initially closed by plug 12, and the reducing metal, such as sodium or magnesium, is fed through tube 17. The alloying additions may be made in the form of alloys with the reducing metal, physically attached to the reducing metal, e.g. as wire wrapped round slugs of the metal or as powder contained in hollow slugs of the metal, or may be added separately to the bath, either individually or alloyed together. From time to time the ram 15 is lowered to compact the refractory alloy produced, the compacted rod being gradually expelled from the reactor as the plug 12 is withdrawn. The refractory metals may include Ti, Zr, Mo, V, Hf, and W, while alloying additions particularly referred to include Sn, Fe, Cr and Ni. Specifications 758,763, 799,471, 800,311 and 803,356 are referred