What temperatures are used in the two stages of molybdenum powder production?

In the two-stage process for producing molybdenum powder, the reduction of molybdenum trioxide or ammonium molybdate is carried out at the following temperatures:

• First stage: The furnace operates at 600–700 °C (1,100–1,300 °F) to reduce the material to a dioxide.1
• Second stage: The product from the first stage is processed in a second furnace operating at 1,000–1,100 °C (1,800–2,000 °F) to produce the final metal powder.1

In some instances, a three-stage process may be utilized, beginning at a lower temperature of 400 °C (750 °F) to prevent sintering and avoid an uncontrolled reaction.1