US4437888A — Preparation of titanium/aluminum alloys

Claim 1

Independent Claim 130 words

A process for the production of an admixture of metals in metallic state and a cryolite mineral comprising (1) reducing an alkali metal fluotitanate with aluminum at an elevated temperature which is below that at which vaporization of products of said reduction occurs, said reduction occurring in the presence of an alkali metal oxide reactive flux, (2) solubilizing with water fluorine compounds formed during said reduction which are in admixture with a dispersion of metallic titanium and aluminum also formed during said reduction, (3) separating said titanium and aluminum from said aqueous solution of solubilization of step (2), (4) contacting said aqueous solution of solubilization from which said metallic titanium and aluminum have been separated with a mineral acid to form a cryolite mineral, and (5) recovering said cryolite mineral.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 130 words

A process for the production of an admixture of metals in metallic state and a cryolite mineral comprising (1) reducing an alkali metal fluotitanate with aluminum at an elevated temperature which is below that at which vaporization of products of said reduction occurs, said reduction occurring in the presence of an alkali metal oxide reactive flux, (2) solubilizing with water fluorine compounds formed during said reduction which are in admixture with a dispersion of metallic titanium and aluminum also formed during said reduction, (3) separating said titanium and aluminum from said aqueous solution of solubilization of step (2), (4) contacting said aqueous solution of solubilization from which said metallic titanium and aluminum have been separated with a mineral acid to form a cryolite mineral, and (5) recovering said cryolite mineral.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process as defined by claim 1, said alkali metal oxide reactive flux being selected from the group consisting of Na 2 O, K 2 O and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

A process for the preparation of an alloy comprising titanium and aluminum, which comprises melting and cooling the metallic titanium and aluminum separated by the process as defined by claim 1.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The process as defined by claim 3, further comprising adding, prior to the melting of said titanium and aluminum, an amount of powdered aluminum, titanium, or admixture thereof, so as to provide the exact composition of the final alloy desired.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process as defined by claim 3, further comprising adding, prior to the melting of said titanium and aluminum, an amount of powdered tin, molybdenum, silicon or admixture thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The process as defined by claim 3, wherein the molecular ratio of the alkali metal oxide reactive flux to the aluminum trifluoride formed during the reduction or coreduction is at least 2.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process as defined by claim 6, said molecular ratio ranging from 2 to 3.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The process as defined by claim 6, said reduction or coreduction being carried out at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1000° C., under an inert atmosphere.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The process as defined by claim 8, said inert atmosphere comprising argon.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process as defined by claim 8, said temperature ranging from 750° C. to 950° C.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process as defined by claim 10, said temperature ranging from 925° C. to 950° C.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process as defined by claim 6, said wherein aluminum, fluotitanate, M halide and alkali metal oxide reactive flux are introduced to the reduction or coreduction in finely divided powder form.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process as defined by claim 12, said fluotitanate being sodium fluotitanate and said reactive flux being Na 2 O.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process as defined by claim 13, said M halide being a fluoride.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The process as defined by claim 12, the final product alloy being Ti 90 Al 6 V 4 .

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 158 words

A process for the production of an admixture of metals in metallic state and a cryolite mineral comprising (1) coreducing an admixture of an alkali metal fluotitanate, aluminum and at least one halide of a metal M wherein M is selected from the group consisting of vanadium, zirconium, chromium, niobium, tantalum and iron at an elevated temperature which is below that at which vaporization of products of said coreduction occurs, said coreduction occurring in the presence of an alkali metal oxide reactive flux, (2) solubilizing with water fluorine compounds formed during said reduction which are in admixture with a dispersion of metals in metallic state also formed during said reduction, (3) separating said metals in metallic state from said aqueous solution of solubilization of step (2), (4) contacting said aqueous solution of solubilization from which said metallic titanium and aluminum have been separated with a mineral acid to form a cryolite mineral, and (5) recovering said cryolite mineral.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 158 words

A process for the production of an admixture of metals in metallic state and a cryolite mineral comprising (1) coreducing an admixture of an alkali metal fluotitanate, aluminum and at least one halide of a metal M wherein M is selected from the group consisting of vanadium, zirconium, chromium, niobium, tantalum and iron at an elevated temperature which is below that at which vaporization of products of said coreduction occurs, said coreduction occurring in the presence of an alkali metal oxide reactive flux, (2) solubilizing with water fluorine compounds formed during said reduction which are in admixture with a dispersion of metals in metallic state also formed during said reduction, (3) separating said metals in metallic state from said aqueous solution of solubilization of step (2), (4) contacting said aqueous solution of solubilization from which said metallic titanium and aluminum have been separated with a mineral acid to form a cryolite mineral, and (5) recovering said cryolite mineral.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process as defined by claim 16, said alkali metal oxide reactive flux being selected from the group consisting of Na 2 O, K 2 O and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

A process for the preparation of an alloy comprising titanium and aluminum, which comprises melting and cooling that dispersion of metals in metallic state separated by the process as defined by claim 17.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 44 words

The process as defined by claim 18, further comprising adjusting the composition of said dispersion of metals, prior to the melting thereof, with an amount of powdered aluminum, titanium, or admixture thereof, so as to provide the exact composition of the final alloy desired.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The process as defined by claim 18, further comprising adjusting the composition of said dispersion of metals, prior to the melting thereof, with an amount of powdered tin, molybdenum, silicon, or admixture thereof.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process as defined by claim 18, wherein the molecular ratio of the alkali metal oxide reactive flux to aluminum trifluoride formed during the reduction or coreduction is at least 2.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process as defined by claim 21, said molecular ratio ranging from 2 to 3.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

The process as defined by claim 21, said reduction or coreduction being carried out at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1000° C. under an inert atmosphere.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process as defined by claim 23, said temperature ranging from 750° C. to 950° C.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process as defined by claim 24, said temperature ranging from 925° C. to 950° C.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 12 words

The process as defined by claim 23, said inert atmosphere comprising argon.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process as defined by claim 20, wherein said aluminum, fluotitanate and alkali metal oxide reactive flux are introduced to the reduction or coreduction in finely divided powder form.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process as defined by claim 27, said fluotitanate being sodium fluotitanate and said reactive flux being Na 2 O.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-03-20	1987-09-19	1988-03-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-03-20	1991-09-19	1992-03-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-03-20	1995-09-19	1996-03-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Preparation of titanium/aluminum alloys

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