Eltech Systems Corporation

Ajit Y Sane

Douglas J Wheeler

Jean-Pierre Derivaz

Charles S Kuivila

Jean-Jacques R Duruz

Marilyn J Harney

Elvin M Vauss

Iudita L Adorian

Dan Gagescu

Pierre E Debely

The invention relates to the production of desirably consolidated high purity refractory metal borides, carbides, nitrides, or mixtures, combinations of cermets thereof. In the preparation, a second stage reaction is conducted at reduced pressure and sintering temperature. Furthermore, it is carried out in the presence of sintering aid which can be initially present as a particulate material and, as such, may be incorporated with other reaction ingredients. Sintering aid, in a dual role, may serve not only as an assistant in the second stage reaction, but also as a reaction participant. Moreover, during such rection at sintering conditions, the sintering assistance is obtained by means of sintering aid vapor. High purity products of desirable microstructure can be achieved, having densities on the order of 90 percent or more.

Preparation and sintering of refractory metal borides, carbides and

A component for an aluminum production cell comprising a refractory matrix having a rigid porous structure substantially filled with aluminum.

Aluminum production cell components

Refractory metal borides, carbides, nitrides and mixtures thereof of the Group IVb, Vb and VIb metals are produced from a glass or microcrystalline gel formed from organo-metallic precursors. Typically TiO.sub.2.B.sub.2 O.sub.3 glass is produced by hydrolysis of titanium butoxide and trimethyl borate, followed by gelling/drying. The glass may have carbon inclusions or may be mixed with carbon or aluminum powder or a mixture thereof, and reacted. In the case of aluminothermic and carboaluminothermic reduction, there is a residual aluminum-containing phase in the product. Composites can also be produced by including inert materials in the reaction mixture.

Refractory metal borides and composites containing them

A method for rendering an aluminum electrowinning cell component fabricated from an aluminum nonwettable material wettable by molten aluminum, and therefore utilizable within the cell. Under the method, the component is coated with titanium and boron, and while the component is immersed in molten aluminum within the cell, the molten aluminum is maintained near saturation with boron and titanium.

Aluminum wettable materials for aluminum production

Ceramic oxide electrodes for molten salt electrolysis

A method and apparatus for making a drained aluminum electrowinning cathode dimensionally stable. A thin, 1/2 to 10 millimeter coating of substantially stagnant molten aluminum is maintained upon the cathode surface by an openly porous sheath or membrane closely conforming to contours of the electrowinning cathode. The sheath or membrane is made from a material substantially resistant to corrosives present in the aluminum electrowinning; it may be only slightly aluminum wettable, but should be relatively electrically nonconductive.

Dimensionally stable drained aluminum electrowinning cathode method and

A self-supporting reticulate of titanium hydride (TiH.sub.2) is formed by slurry-coating an open cell organic synthetic resinous material, or other pore-former, and eliminating the carbon-containing components of binder and/or solvent, viscosity modifiers, thickening agents, and the like at a temperature below about 400.degree. C. In an analogous manner, an inorganic refractory material open cell substrate or other pore-former substrate may be slurry-coated and converted to a TiH.sub.2 reticulate in which the substrate is coated with TiH.sub.2 to yield a supported TiH.sub.2 reticulate. Either the self-supporting TiH.sub.2 reticulate, or the supported one, free of carbonaceous material, may be sintered to yield an essentially pure Ti (metal) reticulate which is essentially free of titanium carbide. Ti reticulates so formed are coated with Pt group metal oxides and used as anodes in chloroalkali cells.

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Willoughby, OH, United States of America

Ajit Y Sane