Abstract
In this study, niobium powder was made from potassium heptafluoroniobite($K_2NbF_7$) using sodium(Na) as a reductant and KCl, KF as a diluent based on the hunter metallothermic reduction method. The excesses of reductant were varied from 0%, 3%, 5% and 7%. When 7% excess of sodium was used, the un-reacted sodium remained in the reacted product. The niobium powder has been achieved by reducing 50 g of $K_2NbF_7$ with 5% sodium excess in a charge at a reduction temperature of $850^{\circ}C$. The proportion of fine fraction decreased appreciably and the yield of niobium powder improved from 65% to 85% with the increase of sodium excess. The average particle size of niobium powder is improved from 0.2 microns to 0.3 microns in the 5% excess sodium.
