Agglomerates containing iron and at least one further element of groups 5 or 6 of the periodic system

Abstract

The invention relates to agglomerates containing iron and at least one further element of groups 5 or 6 of the periodic system, characterized in that they have a porosity in the range of 20 to 65% by volume, in particular of 30 to 45% by volume. Hereby, a rapid dissolubility of the agglomerates in a metal melt is achieved.

I claim:  
     
         1 . Sintered agglomerates containing iron and at least one further element of groups 5 or 6 of the periodic system, prepared by a process comprising the steps of (i) reducing an iron oxide and an oxide of at least one further element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 5 and 6 of the periodic system to their respective metals, (ii) compacting, in the absence of a binding agent, the reduced metals prepared by step (i), and (iii) sintering the compacted product of step (ii), wherein the sintered agglomerates have a porosity in the range of 20 to 65 percent by volume.  
     
     
         2 . Sintered agglomerates according to  claim 1  which contain, as a further element, molybdenum in an amount of 45 to 85 percent by weight.  
     
     
         3 . Sintered agglomerates according to  claim 2  having a lump density in the range of 4.2 to 6.3 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         4 . Sintered agglomerates according to  claim 1  which contain, as a further element, tungsten in an amount of 60 to 90 percent by weight.  
     
     
         5 . Sintered agglomerates according to  claim 4  having a lump density in the range of 4.7 to 8.4 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         6 . A method of producing alloyed metal melts comprising adding, to a metal melt, sintered agglomerates according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A method of producing alloyed metal melts comprising adding, to a metal melt, sintered agglomerates according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         8 . A method of producing alloyed metal melts comprising adding, to a metal melt, sintered agglomerates according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         9 . A method of producing alloyed metal melts comprising adding, to a metal melt, sintered agglomerates according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         10 . A method of producing alloyed metal melts comprising adding, to a metal melt, sintered agglomerates according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         11 . A method for producing sintered agglomerates of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of (i) reducing an iron oxide and an oxide of at least one further element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 5 and 6 of the periodic system to their respective metals, (ii) compacting, in the absence of a binding agent, the reduced metals prepared by step (i), and (iii) sintering the compacted product of step (ii).  
     
     
         12 . A method for producing sintered agglomerates of  claim 2 , comprising the steps of (i) reducing an iron oxide and an oxide of at least one further element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 5 and 6 of the periodic system to their respective metals, (ii) compacting, in the absence of a binding agent, the reduced metals prepared by step (i), and (iii) sintering the compacted product of step (ii).  
     
     
         13 . A method for producing sintered agglomerates of  claim 3 , comprising the steps of (i) reducing an iron oxide and an oxide of at least one further element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 5 and 6 of the periodic system to their respective metals, (ii) compacting, in the absence of a binding agent, the reduced metals prepared by step (i), and (iii) sintering the compacted product of step (ii).  
     
     
         14 . A method for producing sintered agglomerates of  claim 4 , comprising the steps of (i) reducing an iron oxide and an oxide of at least one further element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 5 and 6 of the periodic system to their respective metals, (ii) compacting, in the absence of a binding agent, the reduced metals prepared by step (i), and (iii) sintering the compacted product of step (ii).  
     
     
         15 . A method for producing sintered agglomerates of  claim 5 , comprising the steps of (i) reducing an iron oxide and an oxide of at least one further element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 5 and 6 of the periodic system to their respective metals, (ii) compacting, in the absence of a binding agent, the reduced metals prepared by step (i), and (iii) sintering the compacted product of step (ii).  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1   1 , wherein the reduced metals are compacted into a briquette.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the reduced metals are compacted into a briquette.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reduced metals are compacted into a briquette.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reduced metals are compacted into a briquette.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reduced metals are compacted into a briquette.