US3948637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for class IV-B metals ore reduction
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-10
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-06-10
Abstract
Abstract Ores containing oxides of Titanium, Zirconium and Hafnium metals are reduced by mixing them in the powdered state with a base hydroxide of one of the Classes I-A or II-A metals of the periodic table of elements and either sugar or starch, mixing them well, then heating the mixture until ignition begins and maintaining the necessary heat until ignition is finished. The remaining residue is then flushed and boiled with water to remove waste chemicals, leached with hydrocarbon solvents, hydrochloric acid, again boiled with water, flushed, dryed, and then smelted to Class IV-B metal powder or ingot.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Franklin Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:08
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B34/00; C22B34/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of reducing titanium dioxide to titanium metal comprising the steps of: (A) Adding powdered titanium dioxide to materials selected from the group consisting of sugar and starch, and a base hydroxide, (B) mixing, and adding to a reduction container, (C) applying heat to the mixture until combustible materials burn, (D) adding water, boiling and flushing, (E) leaching with hydrochloric acid and hydrocarbon solvents, (F) again adding water, boiling and flushing, then (G) drying, and (H) smelting the remaining material to produce titanium metal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of reducing titanium dioxide to titanium metal comprising the steps of: (A) Adding powdered titanium dioxide to materials selected from the group consisting of sugar and starch, and a base hydroxide, (B) mixing, and adding to a reduction container, (C) applying heat to the mixture until combustible materials burn, (D) adding water, boiling and flushing, (E) leaching with hydrochloric acid and hydrocarbon solvents, (F) again adding water, boiling and flushing, then (G) drying, and (H) smelting the remaining material to produce titanium metal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of reducing zirconium dioxide to zirconium and hafnium metal comprising the steps of: (A) Adding powdered zirconium dioxide to materials selected from the group consisting of sugar and starch, and a base hydroxide, (B) mixing, and adding to a reduction container, (C) applying heat to the mixture until combustible materials burn, (D) adding water, boiling and flushing, (E) leaching with hydrochloric acid and hydrocarbon solvents, (F) again adding water, boiling and flushing, then (G) drying, and (H) smelting the remaining material to produce zirconium and hafnium metal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of reducing zirconium dioxide to zirconium and hafnium metal comprising the steps of: (A) Adding powdered zirconium dioxide to materials selected from the group consisting of sugar and starch, and a base hydroxide, (B) mixing, and adding to a reduction container, (C) applying heat to the mixture until combustible materials burn, (D) adding water, boiling and flushing, (E) leaching with hydrochloric acid and hydrocarbon solvents, (F) again adding water, boiling and flushing, then (G) drying, and (H) smelting the remaining material to produce zirconium and hafnium metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the titanium dioxide is in the form of a rutile, and the titanium product as derived from ilmenite ore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sugar and starch are in the forms of Sucrose (C 12 H 22 O 11 ), Glucose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ), Fructose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ), and starch (C 6 H 10 O 5 ).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the base hydroxide is a member of one of the Classes I-A or II-A metals of the periodic table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the reduction container is subjected to standard atmospheric environment at reduction area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the reduction container is subjected to controlled vacuum-inert atmospheric environment at reduction area, and from which gases may exit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the burning is caused by the chemical union of hydrocarbon gases created within the process mixture and the oxygen from the process ore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the smelting is accomplished by subjecting the residue powder to a vacuum-inert plasma arc furnace environment (electrical).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the smelting is accomplished by the forming of electrode-type ingot rods from the residue powder and insertion of same within vacuum-inert furnace environments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the smelting is accomplished by inserting the residue powder into molten alkali-metal bath vacuum-inert furnace environments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the zirconium dioxide is in the form of baddeleyite, and the zirconium product as derived from zirconium silicate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the sugar and starch are in the forms of Sucrose (C 12 H 22 O 11 ), Glucose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ), Fructose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ), and starch (C 6 H 10 O 5 ).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the base hydroxide is a member of one of the Classes I-A or II-A metals of the periodic table.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the reduction container is subjected to standard atmospheric environment at reduction area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the reduction container is subjected to controlled vacuum-inert atmospheric environment at reduction area, and from which gases may exit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the burning is caused by the chemical union of hydrocarbon gases created within the process mixture and the oxygen from the process ore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the smelting is accomplished by subjecting the residue powder to a vacuum-inert plasma arc furnace environment (electrical).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the smelting is accomplished by the forming of electrode-type ingot rods from the residue powder and insertion of same within vacuum-inert furnace environments.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the smelting is accomplished by inserting the residue powder into molten alkali-metal bath vacuum-inert furnace environments.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |