Method of producing metals or metal alloys and an arrangement therefor

US4561883A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Voest-Alpine · AT

Inventors

• Paul Mullner · Traun, AT
• Bernhard Enkner · Linz, AT
• Gerhard Hubweber · Frankenmarkt, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 7, 1984
• Grant date: Dec 31, 1985
• Expiry date: Aug 7, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C22B34/1286
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a method of producing metals or metal alloys by reducing their halides in a hydrogen plasma, a plasma jet reaction zone is built up from the vaporized metal halides contained in the plasma gas together with hydrogen, and the molten metal formed jets from the plasma jet reaction zone into a mould arranged therebelow. An arrangement for carrying out this method includes a reaction vessel whose upper part has a reaction space for the metal halide to be reduced and hydrogen-containing plasma gas, and a plasma lance arranged centrally in the reaction vessel, the metal formed getting into the lower part of the reaction vessel forming a metal sump therein.