Structure
Structure JSC «Giredmet» 
Patents
Published: 10.03.2009
Patent holder (s):
PJSC “State Research and Design Institute of Rare-Metal Industry “Giredmet”
Inventors:
A.E. Nikitin, I.A. Medvedev, M.V. Vorobyova, V.V. Ivanova
The invention relates to rare metal industry, particularly to technology of producing metal tantalum by metallothermic reduction of its salts. To produce metal tantalum, mix material containing mixture of КТаС1b double complex tantalum salt chloride and KCI potassium chloride in ratio of 1: (0,2+0,5) by mass is fed by portions or uninterruptedly in the form of powder or melt onto metal sodium melt surface taken in excess of 60-80% from stoichiometrically needed amount. Reduction is performed at temperature of 550-650°С with mix material feeding rate of 15-20 g/cm from metal sodium melt surface area. Reduced reacting mass which was produced, is processed by vacuum-thermal treatment at temperature of 500-540°С and residual pressure, which does not exceed sodium vapor equilibrium pressure at temperature of unreacted sodium vacuum-thermal treatment. After vacuum-thermal treatment, reacting mass hydrometallurgy treatment is performed. Technological effect of the invention is zero environmental pollution.