Calciothermic Reduction of Titanium Oxide Compounds

The reduction of TiO2 and CaTiO3 in a mixture with calcium has been studied in an argon atmosphere and vacuum at temperatures in the range 1023–1123 K. The adiabatic temperature of the reduction reactions involved has been calculated as a function of the excess of calcium in the starting mixture and its initial temperature. The presence of a thin CaCl2 film on calcium particles and the use of calcium titanate as a precursor have been shown to increase the reduction rate. The use of a CaTiO3 precursor and CaCl2-activated calcium has made it possible to obtain titanium powders containing 0.5 wt % oxygen and having a specific surface area of 1.2 m2/g via reduction at a temperature of 1073 K for 6 h.