Formation of Titanium Powder by Potassium Reduction of Titanium Salts

摘要

The report describes the investigation of a process to produce titanium powder directly from titanium salts. If successful, such a process could lower the cost and increase the use of titanium. In the study, K2TiF6, K2TiF5, and TiF3 were reduced with potassium in the temperature range of 650 to 750 C. Under certain conditions, titanium powder 1.6 to 3.3 microns in size was produced. After leaching the product with a 0.1 molar hydrochloric acid solution, powder with impurities as low as 0.04 percent potassium and 0.28 percent fluorine were obtained. However, oxygen levels of over 1 percent and the frequent formation of insoluble byproducts demonstrate the need for further research to make the powder suitable for powder metallurgy applications.