Inventors:
Alec Mitchell - West Vancouver, CA
James R. Goldsmith - Pittsburgh PA
J. Malcolm Gray - Stamford CT
Assignee:
Molycorp, Inc. - White Plains NY
International Classification:
C22C 2104
Abstract:
A method for making an alloy of aluminum and silicon with rare earth metals and metals of Groups 4b, 5b and 6b of the Periodic Table in which the flux system CaF. sub. 2 -CaO-Al. sub. 2 O. sub. 3 is used as a solvent to provide a reactive medium for the reactions through which alloys are formed, the method comprising reducing the oxides of the alloying metals with aluminum in the presence of silicon in the flux maintained liquid at a temperature between about 1250. degree. C - 1600. degree. C while maintaining the flux basic to suppress the activity of Al. sub. 2 O. sub. 3 and forming the alloys in the flux from the reduced metals.