New method for preparation of low oxygen Mo powder by reduction of MoO3using Ca

A new method for the reduction of MoO3 using Ca as a reducing agent was developed. A low oxygen Mo powder can thus be prepared by two-step reduction process: the first step reduction involves a contact type method while the second step reduction uses a non-contact type method involving Ca vapour followed by additional deoxidation. The oxygen concentration in the resultant Mo powder was ∼2800 ppm, which was much lower than that of commercial Mo powder (>4400 ppm).