Abstract
Crude niobium metal containing about 99% Nb was obtained from a mixture of niobium pentoxide and niobium carbide by arc reduction by the following reaction: Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ + 5 NbC and up to st r 7 Nb + 5 CO. Mixtures of niobium pentoxide powder and niobium carbide powder were pressed into briquettes. To proceed with the above reaction at high temperature, they were arc-melted by using a laboratory argon-arc furnace with tungsten electrodes and a waterlting time, argon pressure, and number of times of remelting on the reaction were investigated. The purity, of reductants as crude niobium metal, the composition of furnace gas, and the weight losses during arc melting were examined. It was observed that a large amount of CO gas was generated from the molten specimen during arc-melting. Increase of niobium content in reductants was remarkable on account of both the reaction and the vaporization of niobium monoxide especially in low pressure melting. (auth)
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