In-situ synthesis and purification of high grade titanium carbonitride powder via carbonitrothermic reduction of low grade titanium ore

Abstract

This study reports the production of pure titanium carbonitride powder via carbonitrothermic reduction of low grade titanium ore. High temperature reduction of the as-milled samples in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere at 1400 °C for 20 min was maintained for the synthesis of the Fe – TiCN composite. An acid solution of 10% concentration, which contains HCl acid, was used to purify the Fe – TiCN composite, for the purpose of obtaining a high purity TiCN powder. The obtained TiCN powder was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction spectrometer (XRD), particle size analyser (PSA), LECO non – metal analyser, Raman spectroscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) was used to study the powder lattice orientation and particle distribution. The overall results of these analyses confirm the formation of high grade TiCN powder, as the synthesized powder was free of iron and other impurities, and its mean particle size was found to be 4.687 μm.