Method of making submicron size nitrides and carbides

Claim 1

A METHOD OF MAKING FINELY DIVIDED REFRACTORY MATERIAL OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CARBIDES AND NITRIDES OF SUBMICRON PARTICLE SIZE WHICH COMPRISES CREATING A HIGHTEMPERATURE ARE IN A REACTION ZONE OF RESTRICTED VOLUME TO FORM A HIGH-TEMPERATURE REACTION ZONE BETWEEN NONCONSUMABLE ELECTRODES, INTRODUCING REACTANTS WHICH ARE THERMALLY REACTIVE TO FORM SAID REFRACTORY MATERIAL, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IN LOOSE, FINELY DIVIDED SOLID FORM, INTO SAID REACTION ZONE, MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE IN SAID REACTION ZONE AT A LEVEL CAPABLE OF VAPORIZING SOLID REACTANTS, VAPORIZING THE REACTANTS BY THE THERMAL ENERGY CREATED BY SAID HIGH-TEMPERATURE ARC, REACTING THE VAPORS IN SAID REACTION ZONE TO FORM A FINELY DIVIDED REFRACTORY MATERIAL OF SUBMICRON PARTICLE SIZE, AND WITHDRAWING SAID REFRACTORY MATERIAL FROM SAID REACTION ZONE.