Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.

Baburaj G Eranezhuth

Francis H Froes

Keith Prisbrey

Oleg N Senkov

Forming metal and metalloid carbides by mechanically inducing a reduction reaction between a metal chloride (or a metalloid chloride) and a metal carbide. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. Alloy carbides may also be produced by mechanically inducing the co-reduction of metal chlorides or metalloid chlorides and a metal carbide according to the equation: M chloride&plus;M chloride&plus;M carbide&rarr;M M carbide, where M is a metal or metalloid, M is a metal or metalloid and M is a suitable carbide reducing agent.

Process for making carbides through mechanochemical processing

A set of processes for preparing metal powders, including metal alloy powders, by ambient temperature reduction of a reducible metal compound by a reactive metal or metal hydride through mechanochemical processing. The reduction process includes milling reactants to induce and complete the reduction reaction. The preferred reducing agents include magnesium and calcium hydride powders. A process of pre-milling magnesium as a reducing agent to increase the activity of the magnesium has been established as one part of the invention.

Mechanochemical processing for metals and metal alloys

The low temperature reduction of a metal oxide using mechanochemical processing techniques. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. In one embodiment of the invention, titanium oxide TiO.sub.2 is milled with CaH.sub.2 to produce TiH.sub.2. Low temperature heat treating, in the range of 400.degree. C. to 700.degree. C., can be used to remove the hydrogen in the titanium hydride.

Growing community of inventors

Moscow, ID, United States of America

Baburaj G Eranezhuth