Direct electrochemical preparation of Nb–10Hf–1Ti alloy

The preparation of 89Nb–10Hf–1Ti alloy by the electro-deoxidation of a porous precursor cathode made from a mixture of oxides containing the alloying elements has been investigated. The results confirmed the formation of the alloy, saturated with oxygen, after 4 h of the reduction. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microstructural analysis suggested that the reduction starts with the formation of niobium suboxides and calcium niobates. The calcium niobate slows down the reaction until some nonstoichiometric calcium niobate (Ca3Nb2Ox−8) starts to form. Hafnium was also observed to be reduced through the formation of calcium hafnate without any side reactions with the other alloy constituents. Alloy with the target stoichiometry containing 390 ppm oxygen was obtained after 24 h of electro-deoxidation.