The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 27, 1998
Richard S Puopolo, Salem, OR (US);
John Roger Peterson, Salem, OR (US);
Richard Myers, Albany, OR (US);
Teledyne Industries, Inc., Albany, OR (US);
Abstract
Niobium, Nb, is refined from FeNb by electron beam melt refining. The amount of the impurities in the FeNb which form suboxides with oxygen is optionally determined. Sufficient oxygen is added to form oxides with these impurities. The electron beam melt refining process is carried out at a sufficiently high temperature and under a sufficiently low vacuum so that the impurities are removed as oxides from the liquid Nb and the purified Nb is recovered. Preferably the oxygen is added as an oxygen-containing compound such as Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. The recovered Nb can be subjected to additional electron beam melt refining cycles to obtain the desired purity.