Subchloride aluminothermic extraction of titanium from chlorides

The results of thermodynamic calculations and experiments show the possibility of obtaining (i) titanium aluminide (TiAl3) by reducing titanium tetrachloride or subchloride (TiCl x , x ≤ 4) vapor by liquid aluminum and (ii) metallic titanium by reducing titanium chloride vapors with gaseous aluminum subchlorides (AlCl x , x < 3) in a temperature range of 1040–1140 K. In all cases, the reduction proceeds via the formation of titanium dichloride, which is unstable in this temperature interval. It is pointed out that there are good prospects for obtaining ultradisperse particles of metallic titanium and its alloys by mixing the vapors of titanium tetrachloride, aluminum subchlorides, and doping metal (e.g., vanadium) chlorides at the indicated temperatures. It is also possible to use titanium aluminide particles for the reduction of TiCl x . A comparative analysis of alumino-, magnesio-and sodium-thermic processes reveals the advantages of aluminum and its subchlorides for the production of cheap titanium-based structural alloys.