Novel Ti2O3–Al2O3 raw materials with controllable Ti2O3 content from the aluminothermic reduction of ilmenite

Abstract

Titanium-containing refractories have excellent performance, but the high cost limits their application. A series of Ti2O3–Al2O3 raw materials with different Ti2O3 contents were prepared by aluminothermic reduction of ilmenite, while the generated ferrotitanium alloy can be used as raw materials for special steels. Regulating the amount of aluminum added in the system regulates the degree of titanium reduction, and the formed ferrotitanium alloy can achieve separation from the oxides. With decreasing aluminum content of, the Ti2O3 content increased, and the continuous distribution of the corundum area decreased, resulting in a continuously distributed Ti2O3 area. Our results indicated that the molar ratio of aluminum to ilmenite should be higher than 1.4 to achieve slag iron separation. The reaction model for the aluminothermic reduction was established, and the formation mechanism of Al2O3 and Ti2O3 in the system was discussed.