Fundamental experiments are conducted to confirm the calcium reactivity with
titanium oxide in the molten calcium chloride. The TiO2 samples placed in the
molten salt could be reduced without any electron supply to TiO2. In the close
vicinity of cathode, TiO2 could be successfully reduced to alfa-Ti with 1600
mass ppm oxygen. However, the strong stirring of the melt disturbed the calcium
distribution near the cathode and the reduction was incomplete. These findings
supported the proposed mechanism that Ca deposited on the cathode and it
dissolved immediately into the molten salt. The parasite reactions consumed the
dissolved Ca quickly, and they suppressed the effective reduction and subsequent
deoxidation.