Investigation into kinetics of niobium reduction from niobium trichloride by hydrogen

An investigation was made of the reduction kinetics of niobium trichloride, with hydrogen as the reducing agent. The process was carried out at 600-1000 deg C; the reaction periods were varied from 5 to 60 min. At the end of each run change in the weight of the initial sample and its chloride content were determined. The obtained results were used in calculating the reaction rate constants and the energy of activation. The order of reaction and the apparent energy of activation were found to be equal 0.85 and 15.2 kcal/mole respectively