Hydrogen Enhanced Atomic Transport

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe a method for hydrogen enhanced atomic transport. The method includes positioning a mold holding titanium metal particles of a titanium metallic powder in a chamber and, after flowing a gas mixture comprising hydrogen over the titanium metal particles in the chamber, positioning the chamber in a furnace that is preheated at a target temperature, where the target temperature is at least a decomposition temperature of titanium hydride. While maintaining the flow of the gas mixture, the titanium metal particles are heated to create a metallic product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for hydrogen enhanced atomic transport, the method comprising:
 positioning a mold holding titanium metal particles of a titanium metallic powder in a chamber;   after flowing a gas mixture comprising hydrogen over the titanium metal particles in the chamber, positioning the chamber in a furnace that is preheated at a target temperature, wherein the target temperature is at least a decomposition temperature of titanium hydride; and   while maintaining the flow of the gas mixture, heating the titanium metal particles to create a metallic product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing air from the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the air is removed by flushing the chamber with the gas mixture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas mixture is flowed at a controlled rate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after flowing the gas mixture over the metallic product at an increased rate, removing the chamber from the furnace. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cooling the metallic product while maintaining the flow of the gas mixture. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the target temperature is equal to or above 650° and below 8500 C. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic product comprises a metal hydride. 
     
     
         9 . A method for hydrogen enhanced atomic transport, the method comprising:
 positioning a mold holding titanium metal particles of a titanium metallic powder in a chamber,   removing air from the chamber by flushing the chamber with a gas mixture that comprises hydrogen;   while flowing the gas mixture over the titanium metal particles in the chamber, positioning the chamber in a furnace that is preheated at a target temperature, wherein the target temperature is at least a decomposition temperature of titanium hydride; and   while maintaining the flow of the gas mixture, heating the titanium metal particles to create a metallic product.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the gas mixture is flowed at a controlled rate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, after flowing the gas mixture over the metallic product at an increased rate, removing the chamber from the furnace. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising cooling the metallic product while maintaining the flow of the gas mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the target temperature is equal to or above 650° and below 8500 C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the metallic product comprises a metal hydride.