METHOD FOR SMELTING METALLIC TITANIUM AND SMELTER THEREFOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for smelting highly pure metallic titanium efficiently in high mass productivity.;SOLUTION: The smelter has a stainless steel container 8 that holds a calcium chloride bath 17; an alumina container 16 that holds the container 8; a stainless steel cover 9 that shuts the opening of the container 16; an electric furnace heating element 1 that heats the bath 17; and an argon gas inlet 4 and an argon gas outlet 5 formed in the cover. A graphite anode plate 18, an iron cathode plate 19, and a molybdenum container 20 are inserted into the inside of the bath 17. The molybdenum container 20 holds a titanium powder 21. An iron lead wire 23a is connected to the anode plate 18, while an iron lead wire 23b is connected to the cathode plate 19. An electrolysis voltage is applied between the plates 18 and 19 from a direct current source 24 through the lead wires 23a and 23b.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO