Process for producing metal oxides in predetermined physical forms

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING METAL OXIDES IN A PREDETERMINED STRUCTURAL FORM COMPRISING REACTING AT TEMPERATURE OF 700 TO 950*C. IN AN ENCLOSED REACTION ZONE CARBON IN THE STRUCTURAL FORM DESIRED IN THE OXIDE, A VAPOROUS HALIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CHROMIUM, COLUMBIUM, IRON, MOLYBDENUM, TANTALUM, TITANIUM, TUNGSTEN, VANADIUM, AND ZIRCONIUM, AND AN AMOUNT OF A REDUCING AGENT IN EXCESS OF THE STOICHIOMETRIC QUANTITY REQUIRED TO COMPLETELY REDUCE SAID HALIDE TO METAL, SAID REDUCING AGENT BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALUMINUM, HYDROGEN, AND COMBINATIONS THEREOF WHEN THE METAL SELECTED IS FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF COLUMBIUM, IRON, MOLYBDENUM, TANTALUM, TUNGSTEN AND VANADIUM, AND BEINGD SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALUMINUM AND COMBINATIONS OF ALUMINUM WITH HYDROGEN WHEN THE METAL SELECTED IS FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CHROMIUM, TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM, TO PRODUCE A METAL CARBIDE, CONTACTING THE METAL CARBIDE WITH OXYGEN, AT A TEMPERATURE OF 500 TO 1000*C. TO CAUSE AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION, AND RECOVERING A METAL OXIDE HAVING THE STRUCTURAL FORM OR THE CARBON REACTANT.