The Production of Ductile Titanium

Titanium is a very active metal and special precautions are necessary to prepare it free from oxygen and nitrogen. TiCl 4 is reduced with pure magnesium in a molybdenum‐lined crucible, in the presence of pure argon, at a temperature of about 1,000° C. The metal is separated from magnesium salts by leaching and acid treatment. There is no alloying of titanium with magnesium. The powdered Ti metal is compressed into bars and melted in a special vacuum apparatus. The absence of all gases that might react with the metal is of special importance. After melting, the Ti is easily rolled hot. A strip less than 1 mm. thick can be bent cold without fracture.