US1831241A - Nonferrous alloy - Google Patents

Description

J B. GEENAGLE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB OF I ONE-HALF 1AM W. VARNEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARY'L i HONFERROUS ALLOY m Drawing.

production of a non-ferrous alloy which is free from attack by ammonia chloride,

chlorine, ammonia, mine waters and alkalis generally.

A further object of my invention is the producing of a non-ferrous alloy which is free from attack by sulphurous fumes and gases evolved in the roduction or refining and manufacturing 0 oils and gasoline, and free from attack by hypo-chlorides and hyposulphites. I

A further object of m invention is a new process of alloying the e ements herein mentioned.

A further object of my invention is a new process for obtaining the elements and compounds herein mentioned.

A further object of my invention is a new process of separating tantalum and niobium.

A further object of my invention is a new process of obtaining uranic acid.

A further object of my invention is a new process of obtaining niobic acid.

A further object of my invention, is a new process of obtaining yttric acid.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists of the methods employed, combination and arrangement of.

systems and means as hereinafter specifically provided, but it is understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Broadly, my new non-ferrous alloy comprises tantalum, yttrium, uranium and niobium. And it is preferably for certain uses that the tantalum content be of relatively high proportion tdthe niobium and uranium content, and that the yttrium content be of "mineral oils.

Application filed October 1?, 1929. Serial No. 400,4;8.

relatively low proportion to the tantalum'andniobium content.

. As a concrete example, which I have found gives a very satisfactory non-ferrous alloy for the purposes indicated, the tantalum content varies within the range of 30-50%, the

niobium content varies from. 12-26%, the yttrium content varies from 842%, and the uranium content varies from 842%. I have found that it is preferable to have the tanw talum content equal the combined content of the niobium, yttrium and uranium.

In the preparation of my alloy I have found it desirable to add the tantalum content after the other contents are fused, and

that the tantalum content must be free from min and other impurities.

In the making up of this alloy, which is formed by taking ingredients embodying the above metals, or elements, respectively, in m metallic form and heating the mixture, the metal content of the metals suggested; namely, tantalum, yttrium, niobium and uranium, are merged into an alloy.

One example of forming this alloy is by 7 taking the commercially pure metals in the proportions as above named and melting the same to obtain anintermixed molten mass which when properly done and upon cooling will yield a solid alloy of the above analysis.

This alloyappears as a grayish-white, ductile metal, a good conductor of heat and electricity proportioned to the tensile strength of ordinary machine steel; and I have further found if it is cast in a closed mold, will be 35 temperature may be obtained depending upon the various percentages of mix, likewise, its relative hardness and ductility.

This alloy, as above, possesses. metallic properties, but is substantially free from attack by hydro-chloric, nitric and sulphuric g5 acid, or gases. The alloy is also free from at- .tack by sulphurous fumes, salt water or air, chlorine, and the ases created in distilling and refining cru e petroleum and other The alloy is also free from attack by calcium; and other chemical hypochlorides, and by sodium and potassium hypochlorides, and by sodium and other chemical hypo-sulphites.

The physical and chemical properties of thisalloy, render it especially adaptable, for electrode and structural parts of radio tubes. These desirable properties include softness and ease in forming, combined with adequate strength and rigidity, and extremely high melting point.

The alloy, in addition, acts as a getter due to its gas absorption properties above a white heat and may be used alone as a clean-up agent, or in conjunction with a more common agent suchas is used to-day, principally magnesium. This makes it particularly important to manufacturers of alternating current radio tubes. 7

When the alloy is used as a etter, it may be welded, brazed, or soldere to the plate or structural part of the tube, a much more uniform run of tubes with a smaller percentage of rejection is to be expected when this alloy is used as agetter, or as an accessary to the usual getter.

This alloy may be readily welded or brazed to such metal as copper, nickel, chromium, etc., which are used in the structural parts of tubes, as it does not oxidize in the air, electric or spot welding is desirable and may be performed without loss or injury to the metal.

'It is not acted upon by the or chemicals:

Sulphuric acid dilute, or. concentrated, hot or cold; nitric acid dilute, or concentrated, hot or cold; hydrochloric acid dilute, or concentrated, hot. or cold; aqua regia dilute, or concentrated, hot oi cold; hydrofluoric acl d dilute, or concentrated, hot or cold; formic acid, concentrated or diluted oxalic acid, concentrated or diluted; phosphoric acid, concentrated or diluted; carbolic acid, concentrated or diluted; citric acid, concentrated or diluted; tannic acid, concentrated or diluted; sodium acetate 20% solution; iodine acetate 10% solution; chlorinesolution, no action; sodium hydroxite, dilute solution; potassmm hydroxite,

following acids action; carbon monoxide, no action.

In the commercializing of my process herein set forth, I have discovered that tantalum V and niobium under commercial working are form as has heretofore been considered absolutely essential.

salt water, no action; sea air, no action; sulphurous atmosphere, no

aesnm'i rate out by crystallization, re-crystalized again, dissolved as before adding a little potassium carbonate, evaporating to dryness,

heating carefully, adding water and boillng the solution. The tantalum s'eparatescompletely as oxy-fluotantalate zxz'ramrazoa While all the niobium remains in solution as I obtain my niobium as follows: From the filtrate the niobium is precipitated as niobic acid by evaporating to fuming with sulphuric acid, diluting, washing alkaline with ammonium hydroxide, and re-acidifying with sulphuric acid boiling and precipitating with ammonia. 1

I obtain my yttrium as follows: The ore is pulverized, washed, digested with concen-' trated HCL to remove the iron, mixed with I twice its weight of NaCO, and heated to a white heat. The melt is leached with water .and the insoluble residue treated with excess of H SO wliich excess is later driven off. The yttrium precipitated by H,OH andthe yttrium hydroxide precipitated as oxide.

Uranium: The ore is roasted with an alkali until thoroughly fused, washed with hot water until free of iron and dissolved with HNO r Evaporate the HNO solution obtained to a volume of about 40% and cool. Made neutral-with NI-LOH, add about 5% of H03 0, and 15% of H1 0 heat the mixture toboiling, a white precipitate of uranium is formed. Cool to coagulate the precipitate, wash and ignite to U 0 The most preferred form of the alloy consists of a tantalum content greater than the sum of the niobium and yttrium contents, the

yttrium and uranium contents being substantially equivalent. The niobium content being less than the tantalum content and greater than the combined yttrium and uranium content.

The alloy ossesses metallic pro erties but is substantia 1y free from attack y hydrochloric, nitric, sulphuric acids or gases. The alloy is free .from' attack by sulphurous fumes, salt water or air, chlorine'and the gases created inthe distilling and refining of crude petroleum and other mineral oils.

su1hate is dissolved in water,

The alloy is also free from attack by calcium and other commercial hypo-chlorites and by sodium and potassium hypo-chlorites and by sodium and other commercial hyposulphites.

Niobium-and tantalum are recognized as almost similar elements in their behavior, except their melting point is difierent, and I take advantage of that in the forming of my alloy; I take the oxide of the two elements and reduce the niobium first, which attacks the oxide of tantalum, reducing the same.

In this specification and claims, when I use the term, niobic acid-- I means a chemical combination of niobium in any chemical compound; and when I use the term; tantalic acid, I mean a chemical combination of tantalum in any chemical compound.

Attention is especially called to my process described herein where I am enabled to obtain uranium as a. precipitate without a precipitating agent, wherein concentration, heating and cooling is availed of whereby a coagulation is obtained, and the elements ordinarily precipitated withlthe uranium are held in solution.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim'and desire-to secure by Letters'Pat-- cut is:

1. An alloyconsisting of tantalum in the proportion of from 30 to of niobium in the proportion of from 12 to 26%, of yttrium in the proportion of from 8 to 12%, and of uranium in the proportion of from 8 to 12%.

2. An alloy of tantalum in the proportion of from 30 to yttrium and uranium in substantially equal proportion to one another, and of niobium of from 12 to 26%, the combined aforesaid proportions totalling JAMES B. GRENAGLE.