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Synthesis of nanoscale particles of Ta and Nb3Al by homogeneous reduction in liquid ammonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Hongmin Zhu
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139–4307
Donald R. Sadoway
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139–4307
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Abstract

The analysis of metallothermic reduction as an electronically mediated reaction predicted that the particle size of solid product could be reduced if the reaction were conducted in a medium that is a mixed conductor (ionic and electronic). This prediction was confirmed by reacting TaCl5 with sodium, each dissolved in liquid ammonia, to produce tantalum powder having an average particle size over an order of magnitude finer than the micron-sized powders produced commercially today. Metallothermic reduction in a mixed conducting medium has been extended to a multicomponent system in order to synthesize nanosized powder of Nb3Al by co-reduction of NbCl5 and AlCl3 both dissolved in liquid ammonia.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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