Preparation of low-oxygen titanium powder by magnesiothermic reduction of TiO2 assisted by MgCl2-HoCl3 molten salt

To reduce the production cost of titanium, a new method for direct preparation of low-oxygen titanium powder by the magnesiothermic reduction of TiO 2 with the assistance of a MgCl 2 -HoCl 3 molten salt was proposed. Thermodynamic calculations showed that the magnesiothermic reduction of TiO 2 was feasible. However, hindrance of the reduction reaction by the reduction by-product of MgO resulted in a considerably high O concentration in the titanium powder. The addition of HoCl 3 to the system significantly reduces the activity of MgO to produce low-oxygen titanium powder. Thermochemical deoxidation and reduction experiments were conducted with MgCl 2 -HoCl 3 molten salt in the temperature range of 1023-1273 K. The results showed that titanium powder with oxygen concentration (mass fraction) below 5.00×10 -4 can be prepared at the Mg-MgCl 2 -HoOCl-HoCl 3 equilibrium.