Preparation of Niobium Powders by Sodiothermic Reduction of K2NbF7

Abstract

Niobium(Nb) and Tantalum(Ta) are rarely found apart in nature and never in the free state. The element niobium amounts to 3% of the crustal abundance. On the whole, the niobium capacitor showed somewhat more unstable characteristics than the commercial tantalum capacitors, but is nonetheless considered applicable as a future substitute for tantalum capacitors. In this study, niobium powder was made from potassium heptafluoroniobite(<TEX>$K_2NbF_7$</TEX>) by using sodium(Na) as a reductant and KCl and KF as diluents based on the hunter sodiothermic reduction method.,In order to obtain a high surface area niobium powder via the sodiothermic reduction method, a certain amount of diluent, such as alkali metal halides selected from NaCl, KCl, KF and NaF, was added in the raw materials to be reduced. However, if a higher surface area of powder is required, more diluents need to be used in the said method in order to produce niobium powder. But when more diluents are used, the niobium powder will be contaminated with more impurities and the yield will also decreased.