PROCESS FOR PREPARING HARDLY-FUSIBLE METAL BY ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION

The invention relates to a process for preparing hard-fusible transition metals such as Ti, Zr, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Mo, W, Cr, Ta, Nb, Cu and the like. According to the invention, the process comprises a process of electrochemical reduction of the above-mentioned metal oxides in molten calcium chloride as electrolyte, in argon-protected atmosphere, using one of the metal oxides in the shape of a sintered-pressed disk as solid cathode and a superdense graphite as anode, so that the working temperature ranges between 800...900°C, the applied voltage is from 2.5 to 3.2 V, the current intensity is from 10 to 20 A, the initial cathode density is from 3.2 to 4.5 A/cm, the distance between the anode and the cathode is from 20 to 40 mm, the anode/cathode surface ratio is from 1.5...2/1.