Extractive Metallurgy of Niobium Book

Properties and Applications of Niobium: Introduction. Historical: Discovery, Early Developments, Recent Trends. Properties: Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Metallurgical Properties. Applications: Niobium in Steels, Cast Irons, Niobium in Superalloys, Niobium in Zirconium Alloys, Niobium in Superconducting Alloys, Niobium in Chemical Process Industry, Niobium Compounds, Miscellaneous. Summary. Sources and Their Treatment Procedures: Introduction. Crustal Abundance. Minerals: General, Geochemistry, Niobium Mineralization. Sources and Reserves: General, Types of Sources, Reserves, Major Deposits. Ore Extraction: General, Mining, Comminution, Concentration. Major Production Practices: Pyrochlore, Niobium with Other Minerals. Summary. Chemical Processing: Introduction. Primary and Secondary Sources: General, Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Source Opening, Niobium and Tantalum Separation Processes, Primary Sources Processing, Secondary Sources Processing. Pollution Aspects in Chemical Processing. Compounds: General, Oxides, Chlorides and Fluorides, Carbides, Hydrides, Nitrides, Borides, Silicides. Summary. Reduction Processes: Introduction. Oxide Reduction Processes: General, Metallothermics, Carbothermics. Chloride Reduction Processes: General, Active Metal Reduction, Non Metal Reduction, Disproportionation and Decomposition. Fluoride Reduction Processes: General, Sodiothermic Process. Electrolytic Reduction Processes. Nitride Decomposition Process: General, Process Description. Miscellaneous Processes: Ferroniobium, Niobium Alloys, Niobium Carbide. Summary. Purification and Consolidation: Introduction: General, Impurities in Niobium. Purification Techniques: Classification of Purification Techniques, Pyrovacuum Treatment, Electrorefining, Iodide Refining, Zone Refining, Electrotransport, Chemical Gettering. Consolidation: Vacuum Sintering, Vacuum Arc Melting, Electron Beam Melting. Summary. Autobiography: Introduction. Chemistry. Mineralogy and Geology. Occurrences. Front End Processes. Back End Processes. Uses and Markets. Conclusion.