A method of producing an Alloy from High Melting Temperature Activated Metals

1,191,193. Consumable electrodes. KOBE STEEL Ltd. 20 May, 1968, No. 23816/68. Heading B3R. [Also in Division C7]. An alloy of high melting reactive metals is produced by mixing powders of the metals, of particle size smaller than 50 mesh (Tyler standard), enclosing the resulting mixture in an electrode body to form a consumable electrode and melting the electrode by vacuum arc or electron beam. The electrode, formed of base metal and alloying metal, may be formed by mixing powdered base metal and all of the alloying metal, preferably in a 50: 50 ratio by weight, and enclosing the powder in a body formed of the remaining base metal which may be in massive form or in the form of grains or powder. The mixed powders may be charged loosely into the core portion of the electrode or may be premoulded under pressure. In either case the composite body is moulded by pressing. Alternatively the mixed powder may be charged to a central through bore of the electrode body and the body is pressed axially with the powder therein. Electrodes may be formed by welding a number of such bodies together in line. In an example a 50: 50 mixture by weight of titanium and tantalum powders is moulded and inserted into the core portion of titanium, pressed, and welded to other similar bodies. The base metal and the alloying metal may be selected from titanium, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten and hafnium.