Processing of mineral and technogeneous raw materials by carbothermal reduction

Currents studies dealing with the preparation of promising materials (most of all, ceramics) by carbothermal reduction (CR) of mineral and technogeneous raw materials are surveyed. Attention is concentrated on the mechanism and kinetics of chemical reactions occurring during the CR process with participation of metal compounds (M=B, V, Nb, Ta, W, etc.) and on the effects of some factors varied during the reduction (temperature, duration of annealing, composition of the gas phase, ratio of the components, density of the blend, etc.) on the compositions and properties of the final products. The ways of optimization of particular flowsheets for the production of new materials by the CR method are discussed. 30 refs., 7 figs., 5 tabs