Patent US2120235A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4127409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reducing zirconium
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
•
Filing: 1976-05-07
•
Granted: 1978-11-28
•
Expires: 1996-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A method for reducing zirconium is disclosed in which a reductant metal, preferably aluminum, is dissolved in the molten state in a solvent metal, preferably zinc. This molten metal phase is contacted with a fused salt phase which includes a zirconium salt to be reduced as one of its components. The desired reduction is effected by mutual displacement, with aluminum being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase, replacing zirconium in the salt, while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase. The fused salt phase and the molten metal phase are then separated, and the solvent metal and zirconium are separated, such as by distillation.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph A. Megy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:01
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B34/00; C22B34/10; C22B34/14; C22B9/00; C22B9/10; C22B9/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of producing nuclear grade zirconium from a zirconium compound, comprising the steps of: preparing a fused salt phase including the zirconium compound to be reduced, and contacting the fused salt phase with a molten metal phase which comprises aluminum and zinc, whereby the zirconium compound is reduced by the aluminum, with the aluminum being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of producing nuclear grade zirconium from a zirconium compound, comprising the steps of: preparing a fused salt phase including the zirconium compound to be reduced, and contacting the fused salt phase with a molten metal phase which comprises aluminum and zinc, whereby the zirconium compound is reduced by the aluminum, with the aluminum being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises the steps of separating the molten metal phase from the fused salt phase and then separating the zinc from the zirconium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the zirconium compound is Na 2 ZrF 6 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 in which a sufficient quantity of aluminum is used to reduce the zirconium in from 85% to 95% of the Na 2 ZrF 6 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 4 which further comprises the steps of again placing the fused salt phase after it is separated from the molten metal phase into a second molten metal phase which comprises aluminum and zinc, and which contains enough aluminum to reduce all of the zirconium in the Na 2 ZrF 6 to obtain virtually pure (NaF) 1 .5.AlF 3 and then separating the (NaF) 1 .5.AlF 3 from the second molten metal phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which the fused salt phase contains salts other than the zirconium compound whose cations are alkali elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the fused salt phase contains salts other than the zirconium compound which are halide salts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises the steps of separating the molten metal phase from the fused salt phase, contacting the molten metal phase with a second fused salt phase including the zirconium compound to be reduced, separating the molten metal phase from the second fused salt phase, and then separating the zinc from the zirconium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 further comprises the steps of contacting the second fused salt phase, after it has been separated from the molten metal phase, with a second molten metal phase which comprises aluminum and zinc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3000726A
Cited
US2782116A
Cited
US2903351A
Cited
US2753256A
Cited
US2797160A
Cited
US2849311A
Cited
US2781261A
Cited
US2837426A
Cited
US2847299A
Cited
US2833641A
Cited
US2913332A
Cited
US2905548A
Cited
US2941867A
Cited
US3012877A
Cited
US3966458A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-27 | 1982-05-29 | 1982-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-27 | 1986-05-29 | 1986-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-27 | 1990-05-29 | 1990-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |