Preparation of vanadium powders by calcium vapor reduction of V2O3 under vacuum

A novel process for synthesizing vanadium powders via calcium vapor reduction of V2O3 under 10 Pa was investigated. The mixture of vanadium trioxide powders and calcium chloride as a flux was the feed preform, and was then reduced by calcium vapor. After reduction, the reduction samples was subjected to a leaching process, the vanadium powders was synthesized by drying and dehydrogenating of the leaching products. The XRD and SEM results of the dehydrogenation products indicated that vanadium were produced and the V particles transformed into clear antler-shaped particles. Vanadium powders (98 wt% V) with 25 ppm H, 1300 ppm N, 1500 ppm O was finally obtained after a dehydrogenation process by Oxygen-nitrogen combined tester (ONH-2000). •Calcium vapor reduction of V2O3 under vacuum.•CaV2O4 of low content were produced in this reduction process.•CaV2O4 can be reduced into metallic vanadium by calcium vapor.•Vanadium powders (98 wt% V) with 25 ppm H, 1300 ppm N, 1500 ppm O was obtained.