Editors: | Kongoli F, Gaune-Escard M, Turna T, Mauntz M, Dodds H.L. |
Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
Publication Year: | 2016 |
Pages: | 390 pages |
ISBN: | 978-1-987820-24-9 |
ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
Direct reduction of TiO2 and ZrO2 by Mg has a potential to be the next-generation method of producing low-cost Ti and Zr metal powders. Many technological steps (especially the chlorination of oxides) do not have to be used when metal oxides are used as a raw material, and Mg is used as a reductant. The main challenge for producing Ti and Zr metals from corresponding oxides is relatively large concentration of oxygen that remain in the final metal powders. According to the literature reports more than 2.0 wt. % oxygen was always found in Ti(Zr) powders fabricated from the oxide precursors. The purpose of this work is to develop an alternative reduction process of oxide materials in order to synthesize Ti and Zr metals with low oxygen content. For this purpose, the reduction process was conducted under the combustion mode in an argon atmosphere. Moreover, different inorganic salts, such as CaCl2, MgCl2, Ca(OH)2 and KClO4 were added to the reaction mixture for affecting the morphology and chemical purity of Ti and Zr powders. It was found that some of these salts can effectively reduce the concentration of oxygen bellow 1.5 wt. %. The mechanism of oxygen reduction is discussed in regard to combustion chemistry and the nature of inorganic salt used in the experiments.