Process for producing metals

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING AT LEAST ONE OF THE METALS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MANGANESE, ALUMINUM, AND CALCIUM BY VAPORIZATION TECHNIQUES COMPRISING ADMIXING AN AMOUNT OF PARTICULATE SOLID STATE ELEMENTAL CARBON AND AT LEAST ONE PARTICULATE, SOLID STATE MEATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SILICIDES AND SILICON ALLOYS OF AT LEAST ONE ELEMENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MANGANESE, ALUMINUM, AND CALCIUM, SAID CARBON BEING PRESENT AT LEAST IN THAT AMOUNT REQUIRED TO STOICHIOMETRICALLY COMBINE WITH THE SILICON IN SAID MATERIAL TO FORM SILICON CARBIDE; CHARGING THE SOLID STATE ADMIXTURE INTO A VACUUM FURNACE; EVACUATING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL THE GAS REACTIVE WITH SAID SELECTED METALS AND HEATING SAID ADMIXTURE IN VACUO TO A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO CAUSE FORMATION OF SILICON CARBIDE AND TO PRODUCE METAL VAPOR OF SAID SELECTED METAL AT A PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF THE AMBIENT PRESSURE WITHIN SAID VACUUM FURNACE; MAINTAINING A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TEMPERATURE TO SUSTAIN VAPORIZATION OF SAID SELECTED METAL AND TO MAINTAIN METAL VAPOR OF SAID SELECTED METAL AT LEAST AT A PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF THE AMBIENT PRESSURE WITHIN SAID VACUUM FURNACE; CONDUCTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID METAL VAPOR TO A CONDENSIN-ZONE AND CONDENSING SAID METAL VAPOR TO FORM AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SELECTED METALS IN SUBSTANTIALLY PURE SOLID METALLIC FORM.