A method of recovering rare earth elements and other trace metals from based ores can include providing a body of rubblized carbon-based ore. The rubblized carbon-based ore can include carbonates and rare earth elements. The carbonates in the ore can be decomposed at an elevated decomposition temperature and an oxygen deficient atmosphere to form an enriched spent ore and carbon dioxide.

A method of recovering rare earth elements and other trace metals from based ores can include providing a body of rubblized carbon-based ore. The rubblized carbon-based ore can include carbonates and rare earth elements. The carbonates in the ore can be decomposed at an elevated decomposition temperature and an oxygen deficient atmosphere to form an enriched spent ore and carbon dioxide.

A method of selectively oxidizing one or more target metals in an alloy comprising target and non-target metals is provided. The method comprises the steps of: i) melting the alloy and exposing the molten alloy to simultaneous fragmentation and oxidation in the presence of an oxygenated atomizing gas under conditions sufficient to yield an oxidation potential that oxidizes the one or more target metals in the alloy and does not oxidize the non-target metal(s); and ii) allowing the treated alloy to solidify. The method is useful to purify a non-target base metal. The method is also useful to produce a metal compound comprising a desired content of one or more oxidized target metals above the theoretical maximum generally achieved by thermal plasma spray surface coating applications.

A method of selectively oxidizing one or more target metals in an alloy comprising target and non-target metals is provided. The method comprises the steps of: i) melting the alloy and exposing the molten alloy to simultaneous fragmentation and oxidation in the presence of an oxygenated atomizing gas under conditions sufficient to yield an oxidation potential that oxidizes the one or more target metals in the alloy and does not oxidize the non-target metal(s); and ii) allowing the treated alloy to solidify. The method is useful to purify a non-target base metal. The method is also useful to produce a metal compound comprising a desired content of one or more oxidized target metals above the theoretical maximum generally achieved by thermal plasma spray surface coating applications.

A method for producing briquettes made of a waste material includes provisioning of at least one metal and at least one organic material. The waste material is mechanically prepared in a single or multiple stages and at least one first fraction of the waste material is separated. A briquette mixture containing the at least one first fraction is produced, wherein the at least one first fraction has a calorific value of 0 MJ/kg to 30 MJ/kg. A calorific value of the briquette mixture is adjusted by varying at least the first fraction. The briquette mixture is introduced into a briquetting device and pressed into briquettes. Briquettes with a calorific value of 5 MJ/kg to 30 MJ/kg and with a maximum copper content of 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % are produced.

A preparation method of improved sintered neodymium-iron-boron (Nd—Fe—B) casting strips includes the following steps: firstly nucleation assisted alloy particles used for sintered Nd—Fe—B casting strips are prepared, all elements are weighted as follows: 26.68-28% of Pr—Nd, 70-72.5% of Fe and 0.90-1% of B, and a Pr element in two elements of Pr—Nd accounts for 0-30 wt %; the compounded materials are smelted and poured to obtain alloy strips, then the alloy strips are crushed into particles with diameter of 1-10 mm; secondly, Nd—Fe—B casting strips are prepared: the prepared intermediate materials are smelted and melted into molten steel, and then are refined; after the intermediate materials are fully melted, the nucleation assisted alloy particles are added; and after the nucleation assisted alloy particles are added, smelting is performed for 3-15 minutes pouring is performed, and final Nd—Fe—B alloy casting strips are obtained.

A method of selectively oxidizing one or more target metals in an alloy comprising target and non-target metals is provided. The method comprises the steps of: i) melting the alloy and exposing the molten alloy to simultaneous fragmentation and oxidation in the presence of an oxygenated atomizing gas under conditions sufficient to yield an oxidation potential that oxidizes the one or more target metals in the alloy and does not oxidize the non-target metal(s); and ii) allowing the treated alloy to solidify. The method is useful to purify a non-target base metal. The method is also useful to produce a metal compound comprising a desired content of one or more oxidized target metals above the theoretical maximum generally achieved by thermal plasma spray surface coating applications.

A method of selectively oxidizing one or more target metals in an alloy comprising target and non-target metals is provided. The method comprises the steps of: i) melting the alloy and exposing the molten alloy to simultaneous fragmentation and oxidation in the presence of an oxygenated atomizing gas under conditions sufficient to yield an oxidation potential that oxidizes the one or more target metals in the alloy and does not oxidize the non-target metal(s); and ii) allowing the treated alloy to solidify. The method is useful to purify a non-target base metal. The method is also useful to produce a metal compound comprising a desired content of one or more oxidized target metals above the theoretical maximum generally achieved by thermal plasma spray surface coating applications.

A titanium-containing calcium hexaaluminate material and preparation method thereof is disclosed. The technical solution is: using 60˜80 wt % alumina micro powder, 5˜20 wt % calcium-containing micro powder, 10˜20 wt % titania micro powder and 1˜10 wt % manganese oxide micro powder as raw materials, blending the raw materials evenly in a planetary ball mill to obtain a blend, machine pressing the blend at 100˜200 MPa to obtain a green body, drying the green body at 110˜200° C. for 12˜36 h, and incubating the dried green body at 1500˜1800° C. for 1˜8 h to obtain the titanium-containing calcium hexaaluminate material. The present disclosure has low cost and simple process, and the prepared titanium-containing calcium hexaaluminate material has the characteristics of good chemical stability, high thermal shock resistance and strong melt resistance to titanium-aluminum alloy.

A melting furnace includes a melting portion to which a metal material is supplied; a burner for melting the metal material in the melting portion; a heating portion that receives the molten material from the melting portion; a temperature regulating portion that receives the molten material from the heating portion; a separator that separates the heating portion and the temperature regulating portion, wherein the lower portion of the separator is immersed in the molten material to form, below the separator, an inlet; an immersion heater wherein at least part of the immersion heater is immersed in the molten material in the temperature regulating portion; and a gas introduction path that is formed in the separator, and that introduces combustion gas from the burner into a space above the molten material in the temperature regulating portion; wherein the burner is controlled so that the combustion gas has an oxygen concentration of 5% or less.