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Why are niobium powder compacts sintered in a vacuum?
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niobium processing
Four one-millimetre thick samples of niobium metal foil.
Niobium powder compacts are sintered in a vacuum primarily to facilitate the purification of the metal, which results in improved mechanical properties.1
During the sintering process, which occurs at temperatures between 2,100 and 2,300 °C (3,800–4,150 °F), the vacuum environment allows for the controlled evaporation of impurities. By increasing the temperature in stages, manufacturers can ensure these impurities are removed while preventing the sudden, potentially damaging release of gas from the compact.1