Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
For removing substantially all oxygen from a electrolytic melt consisting essentially of at least one fluoride selected from the group of alkali metal fluorides and alkaline earth metal fluorides, the process comprising the steps of: A. maintaining said melt above its melting temperature; B. maintaining the ambient pressure on said melt at less than one-third atmosphere; C. providing in said melt an anode comprised essentially of carbon, and D. maintaining a positive potential of about 1 to 3 volts on said anode relative to said melt sufficient to remove oxygen but less than the potential at which anode effect occurs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
For removing substantially all oxygen from a electrolytic melt consisting essentially of at least one fluoride selected from the group of alkali metal fluorides and alkaline earth metal fluorides, the process comprising the steps of: A. maintaining said melt above its melting temperature; B. maintaining the ambient pressure on said melt at less than one-third atmosphere; C. providing in said melt an anode comprised essentially of carbon, and D. maintaining a positive potential of about 1 to 3 volts on said anode relative to said melt sufficient to remove oxygen but less than the potential at which anode effect occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
The process as defined by claim 1 E. wherein said melt includes a substantial concentration of cations of metals from the group consisting of the metals of Groups IV-B, V-B, and VI-B of the periodic table, with the further steps of F. providing in said melt a cathode, and G. applying to said cathode a potential relative to said melt sufficient to cause to be deposited on said cathode a metal from the group consisting of (I) metals selected from groups IV-B, V-B, VI-B of the periodic table; (II) alloys of at least two metals of (I) and (III) alloys and compounds of at least one metal of (I) with other metals which form a structurally coherent deposit of metals of (I).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as defined by claim 2 H. said pressure being less than one mm. Hg.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as defined by claim 3 I. the temperature at which said melt is maintained being at least 10°C above its melting point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process as defined by claim 2 H. where in said cations are of the group consisting of titanium, niobium, tungsten, chromium, hafnium, molybdenum, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as defined by claim 2 H. wherein said cations are of the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, and tungsten.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process as defined by claim 2 H. wherein said cations are of niobium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process as defined by claim 2 H. wherein said cations are of the group consisting of niobium, tungsten, chromium, hafnium, molybdenum, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as defined by claim 2 H. the temperature at which said melt is maintained being less than 600°C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as defined by claim 1 wherein said melt consists of at least one fluoride from the group of alkali metal fluorides and alkaline-earth metal fluorides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as defined by claim 1 wherein said melt consists of at least one fluoride from the group of alkali metal fluorides.