Forms of presence and contents of light elements in finely divided Nb3Al powders

Three batches of finely divided Nb3Al intermetallic powders obtained by calcium hydride reduction were studied for the contents of light elements (H, O, N, C, and S). The oxygen-containing phases present in the Nb3Al powder samples were determined. The oxygen contained in the powder was qualitatively and quantitatively divided into oxygen as a part of adsorbed water, oxygen as a part of surface organic compounds, and oxygen as a part of niobium oxides (NbO x ) and aluminum oxides (Al2O3).