Abstract
Pure tantalum powder has been produced by sodium as a reluctant, $K_2TaF_7$as a feed material and KCl/KF as a diluent in an inconel stainless steel bomb by the metallothermic reduction. The influence of experimental variable, such as temperature of reduction on the yield and characteristics of the Ta powder has been studied. As the temperature of the reduction was varied from$ 800{\circ}C~980{\circ}C$, the yield of tantalum powder increased from 41% to 56%. However no appreciable improvement was observed above$920{\circ}C$. The fraction of fine Ta Powder decreased appreciably with the increase of temperature, and particle size was$2~3{\mu}m$at reduction temperature of$920{\circ}C$.Therefore a reduction temperature of$920{\circ}C$was optimally fixed for subsequent runs.
