Reduction of tungsten oxide to tungsten metal

Tungsten oxide, WO_2.96, was reduced toα-W in hydrogen for various time periods over the temperature range 500°C to 900°C. Intermediate oxides were determined using X-ray diffraction analysis of the semireduced powders. Several dopant conditions were used, to find the effect on oxide structures and reaction kinetics of the usual dopants K, Si and Al. The scanning electron microscope was employed to determine the morphology of the crystallites at intermediate and final stages of reduction. This research was supported in part by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, Contract E(11-1)-1198.