Inco Limited

Carlos M Diaz

James A Bell

Anthony Edward Warner

Thijs Eerkes

Malcolm C Bell

Charles E O'Neill

Samuel W Marcuson

Grigori S Victorovich

Thomas Francis Stephenson

Scott Thomas Campbell

John Francis Brennan

Geoffrey Edwin Osborne

William L Mankins

Paul E Queneau

John Ambrose

Lloyd Matt Timberg

Bruce R Conard

Haydn Davies

Ahmed Vahed

Douglas K Charles

Douglas J MacVicar

Wayne P Leavoy

Richard Stratton-Crawley

Christopher D Doyle

Dingzhu Shi

A continuous nickel matte converter and method for the efficient production of low iron nickel-rich mattes from high-iron nickel-rich mattes, with minimal environmental impact. The present invention processes high-iron, nickel-rich primary furnace mattes to produce low iron, nickel-rich mattes, low value metal-containing slag and sulfur dioxide rich-off gas, with improved cobalt recovery. It eliminates use of the Peirce-Smith converter, with its undesirable environmental, metallurgical and economic features.

Continuous nickel matte converter for production of low iron containing nickel-rich matte with improved cobalt recovery

The invention provides a new method for casting alloys containing a finely divided phase. A bath of the molten metal having a melting point is provided. A finely divided solid metal having a melting point greater than the melting point of molten metal is introduced into the molten metal. The finely divided metal is reacted with the molten metal to form a solid phase within the molten metal. The molten bath is then mixed to distribute the solid phase within the molten metal. The molten alloy is then cast into a solid object containing the solid phase. The solid phase is insoluble in the matrix and has a size related to the initial size of the finely divided solid. The alloy of the invention advantageously consists essentially of, by weight percent, about 3 to 40 aluminum, about 0.8 to 25 nickel, about 0 to 12 copper and balance zinc and incidental impurities. The alloy has a zinc-containing matrix with nickel-containing aluminides distributed throughout the matrix.

Alloys containing insoluble phases and method of manufacturing thereof

A pyrometallurgical vessel suitable for continuous or semicontinuous smelting and/or conversion of molten base metal sulfide feed materials. The top blown, bottom stirred vessel includes oxidizing gas lances and feed pipes directing their respective contents directly or indirectly into bath eyes opened up in the molten bath by gas injected through porous plugs disposed at the base of the vessel. Low space velocities in the vessel result in reduced dusting.

Reduced dusting bath system for metallurgical treatment of sulfide

Alloys containing insoluble phases and method of manufacture thereof

Reduced dusting bath method for metallurgical treatment of sulfide

A system for continuous smelting of sulfidic copper concentrate in which an oxygen flash furnace is operatively connected with a continuous converter and the continuous converter is operatively connected with a finishing furnace.

Copper smelting system

This invention relates to a thermal upgrading process whereby nickel-containing limonite or limonite/saprolite blends are pelletized with requisite amounts of solid carbon reductant and a sulfure-bearing concentrating agent. The pellets are fed to a reactor where they are gradually heated, causing reduction of the metal values. The reduced pellets are then held in a 'metallics growth zone' of the reactor at a temperature high enough to allow for liquid-phase migration of the metallics within the pellets but below the point at which the pellets become sticky. The metallics growth zone is provided with a carefully controlled combustion gas atmosphere equivalent to about 60-65% aeration of partial combustion of natural gas which prevents further reduction or re-oxidation and thus provides a good environment for metallic particle growth. After a sufficient retention time, the pellets are then rapidly cooled to prevent the disproportionation of wustite to magnetite. The cooled pellets are then ground and the magnetic fraction separated.

Low temperature thermal upgrading of lateritic ores

The invention provides a method for removing the oxide surface from water atomized metal powders containing an oxidizer capable of oxidizing chromium from a trivalent to a soluble hexavalent state, whereby chromium oxides are removed from the metal powder surface. The powder is then treated with a dilute acid solution essentially devoid of hydrofluoric acid to remove other hydrated oxides from the metal powder surface. The powder is then water washed and dried.

Deoxidation treatment for consolidated atomized metal powder

A composite structure and a method of producing said composite structure from a combination of copper and a low coefficient of thermal expansion nickel-iron alloy is disclosed wherein the copper clads the nickel-iron sheet and is interposed through the central nickel-iron sheet in such a fashion as to provide a substantially isotropic heat transfer path.

Composite structure

A method of producing a composite material from a mixture of copper and a low coefficient of thermal expansion nickel-iron alloy (Invar) powder is disclosed wherein advantageously at least part of the copper is deposited on the Invar powder prior to processing. Processing includes cold compacting to a green strip or other configuration, annealing in the temperature range of 550.degree.-750.degree. C. and working the annealed material at a temperature in that range to high density.

Manufacture of composite structures

A copper converting process starting with white metal or a mixture of white metal and metallic copper in which oxidizing gas contacts the molten copper mass either at or near the top surface of the molten mass while the mass is sparged with an inert gas from at or near the bottom of the mass and sparging is continued after contact with the oxidizing gas ceases.

Pyrometallurgical copper refining

A process for autogenously smelting sulfidic copper material in the presence of a calcareous flux in which slag cleaning to provide metallic copper is employed. Such metallic copper provided by slag cleaning is usefully employed as a coolant in the autogenous smelting operation.

Copper smelting combined with slag cleaning

A process for autogenously smelting copper sulfide ore concentrate directly to semi-blister copper in which a calcareous flux is charged directly to an autogenouse furnace along with concentrate and copper-containing coolant. Furnace products are semi-blister copper, calcareous slag and off-gas rich in sulfur dioxide.

Copper smelting with calcareous flux

A copper flash smelting process in which part of a sulfidic copper feed is roasted in the presence of a calcareous SO.sub.2 scavenger to produce a calcine containing calcium sulfate and an oxidic copper product, the calcine is mixed with additional feed and the mixture is flash smelted to provide a metallic product and a calcareous slag.

Flash smelting process

Sponge titanium powder is compacted, advantageously by roll compaction to a density in the range of about 60% to 80% of the density of solid titanium metal, thereafter heat treated in vacuum at about 500.degree. C. to 750.degree. C., cooled in vacuum to 300.degree. C. and quenched to 100.degree. C. to provide a substrate for electrodes useful in electrolytic processes.

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Mississauga, Canada

Carlos M Diaz