EP 0265413 A3 19890329 - PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RARE-EARTH METALS AND OF ALLOYS CONTAINING RARE-EARTH METALS

Title (en)

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RARE-EARTH METALS AND OF ALLOYS CONTAINING RARE-EARTH METALS

Publication

EP 0265413 A3 19890329 (DE)

Application

EP 87890193 A 19870818

Priority

AT 222686 A 19860819

Abstract (en)

[origin: US4786319A] The invention relates to a process for the production of rare earth metals and alloys thereof. The process exploits the known advantages of metallothermal reduction techniques while decisively enhancing their reduction process. Rare earth halides and/or rare earth oxides are reduced in an electric arc furnace by means of one or several alkaline earth metals, preferably, calcium. Additives such as iron metals or other alloying elements, alkali- and/or alkaline earth metal salt, may be added to the electric arc furnace in a two-phase furnace operation. The reduction takes place in an atmosphere inert to rare earth metals, rare earth compounds, and alkaine earth metals. Agitation is produced in the metal in the furnace by eletromagnetic forces caused by a suitably selected current-to-voltage ratio for the electric arc, in order to achieve reduction in the shortest possible time and as completely as possible.

IPC 1-7

C22B 59/00; C22B 5/04; C22C 1/02

IPC 8 full level

C22B 5/04 (2006.01); C22B 59/00 (2006.01); C22C 1/02 (2006.01); C22C 28/00 (2006.01); C22C 33/04 (2006.01); H01F 1/057 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

C22B 5/04 (2013.01 - EP US); C22B 59/00 (2013.01 - EP US); C22C 1/02 (2013.01 - EP US); H01F 1/0573 (2013.01 - EP US)

Citation (search report)

[Y] GB 190923215 A 19100929 - KUZEL HANS [AT], et al
[Y] GB 2098629 A 19821124 - CONTINENTAL ALLOYS SA
[A] EP 0184722 A1 19860618 - SUMITOMO SPEC METALS [JP]
[A] EP 0170372 A1 19860205 - GEN MOTORS CORP [US]
[A] US 2950962 A 19600830 - NORMAN CARLSON OSCAR, et al
[A] FR 2396802 A1 19790202 - JOHNSON MATTHEY CO LTD [GB]

Designated contracting state (EPC)

CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0265413 A2 19880427; EP 0265413 A3 19890329; EP 0265413 B1 19920226; AT 389899 B 19900212; AT A222686 A 19890715; DE 3776858 D1 19920402; JP S6350434 A 19880303; US 4786319 A 19881122

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 87890193 A 19870818; AT 222686 A 19860819; DE 3776858 T 19870818; JP 20495187 A 19870818; US 8708887 A 19870819