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How is the aluminothermic reaction started when making ferroniobium?
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niobium processing
Four one-millimetre thick samples of niobium metal foil.
In the production of ferroniobium, the aluminothermic process is initiated by the ignition of a mixture consisting of aluminum powder and either sodium chlorate or barium peroxide. This ignition triggers the exothermic reaction within the steel containers, allowing the reduction of the pyrochlore concentrate to proceed.1