Production of Titanium Powder by Electronically Mediated Reaction (EMR)

Abstract

Production of titanium powder directly from tantalum oxides (<TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>) pellet through an electronically mediated reaction (EMR) by calciothermic reduction has been investigated. Feed material (<TEX>$TiO_2\;pellet$</TEX>) and reductant (Ca-Ni alloy) were charged into electronically isolated locations in a molten calcium chloride (<TEX>$CaCl_2$</TEX>) bath at <TEX>$950^{\circ}C$</TEX>. The current flow through an external circuit between the feed (cathode) and reductant (anode) locations was monitored during the reduction of <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>. The current approximately 3.2A was measured during the reaction in the external circuit connecting cathode and anode location. After the reduction experiment, pure titanium powder with low nickel content was obtained even though Ca-Ni alloy was used as a reductant. These results demonstrate that titanium powder can be produced without direct physical contact between the feed and reductant. In certain experimental conditions, pure titanium powder with approximately <TEX>$99.5\;mass\%$</TEX> purity was successfully obtained.