Elaboration of mixed tantalum and niobium carbides from tantalite mineral (Fe,Mn)(Ta1−x Nbx)2O6

摘要

This paper presents an original method of synthesis of mixed tantalum and niobium carbides from an oxalic precursor elaborated from the tantalite mineral (Fe,Mn)(Ta1−x Nb x )2O6. The process of elaboration consists initially in melting the ore with potassium pyrosulphate, then performing a lixiviation with a concentrated hydrochloric acid solution. During the latter reaction, iron and manganese oxides are converted into water-soluble chlorides while the fused mass containing potassium, niobium and tantalum is not dissolved. Traces of chlorides are eliminated by filtration with boiling aqueous solution. Then, the solid is dissolved slowly in hot concentrated sulphuric acid solution. Adding ammonium hydroxide up to a pH of 8 completes the precipitation of niobium and tantalum hydroxides. The precipitate (Ta1−x Nb x )(OH)5 is washed and submitted to a reaction of complexation with oxalate ions in an aqueous environment. This reaction involves the formation of a water-soluble oxalic complex containing tantalum and niobium. The excess of water is eliminated by evaporation at 333 K. The tantalum and niobium carbides are obtained by submitting the oxalic complex of chemical formula (NH4)3(Ta1−x Nb x )O(C2O4)3· nH2O to a gas-solid reaction in a methane-hydrogen atmosphere at 1273 K. The oxalic precursor and their resultant mixed carbides are characterized by atomic absorption and Infra-Red spectroscopies, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis coupled, laser granulometry, X-ray diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy.