A Process For Continuous Titanium Production From Titanium Oxide

Article ID

2000Bdb1013

Title

Author(s)

K. Ono and R. O. Suzuki

Publication/Publisher

Proc. of Emerging Technology for Metals Production, (11-15 Feb. 2001, New Orleans, USA), Ed. by P.R.Talor, (TMS, Ohio, USA) pp.79-88, (2000).

Abstract

A new process for extraction of titanium metal from its oxide is demonstrated. In this process, row material to be reduced is titanium oxide synthesized from ilmenite. The reducing agent is the Ca+CaCl₂ two-phase mixture. Titanium is elaborated in the medium consisted of liquid Ca, CaCl₂ and solid TiO₂ at the temperature range 1200 to 1300K by means of mixing mechanically the ingredients in the reactor into a smooth paste. Fluidity of the feed which enables continuous scheme depends on the CaCl₂ content. The oxygen level of the reduced titanium is the range 500 to 1000 mass ppm varying with the operational conditions. The Ca+CaCl₂ reducing agent is taken out from the electrolysis of CaCl₂ at 1140K, and this CaCl₂ is produced by aqueous chemistry conversion using Cl₂ gas recycled from the electrolysis.