Properties of the intermetallic phase Nb3Al prepared by a calcium hydride reduction process

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of and examines the main steps in preparing the Nb3Al compound by a metallothermic process: by heating a mixture of niobium and aluminum oxides and calcium hydride (calcium hydride reduction process). Our calculations indicate that, when thermodynamic equilibrium sets in during the reaction between the components of a starting mixture, the oxygen content of the intermetallic phase may be very low. We obtained experimental Nb3Al intermetallic powders of nearly 100% purity and investigated their physicochemical and technological properties.