Inventors:
Charles F. Davidson - Layton UT
Monte B. Shirts - South Jordan UT
Donna D. Harbuck - Salt Lake City UT
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the
Interior - Washington DC
International Classification:
C01B 3134
Abstract:
A process for producing substantially oxygen-free titanium carbide, nitride or carbonitride in powder form comprises treating a gas phase reaction mixture of titanium halide, desirably TiCl. sub. 4, a reductant vapor, desirably sodium or magnesium, and a reactive gas capable of furnishing carbon, nitrogen or mixtures thereof at the reaction temperature, desirably nitrogen, methane or ammonia, to a temperature in the range from 500. degree. to 1250. degree. C. , preferably 800. degree. to 1100. degree. C. , whereby the titanium halide is substantially simultaneously reduced and carbided, nitrided or carbonitrided. The process may also be practiced using volatile metal halides of metals such as zironium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum and silicon for forming substantially oxygen-free carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides thereof in powder form.