Fabrication of Low-Oxygen Titanium Powder by Electrolysis of Molten Salt Containing LaCl₃

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in aerospace and ocean engineering because of their excellent properties. Molten salt electrolysis is a cost-effective and efficient method for producing titanium powder. However, titanium powder prepared via this method contains high oxygen levels. To address this issue, a novel approach for producing low-oxygen titanium powder by molten salt electrolysis containing LaCl 3 is proposed in this study. Molten salts were selected and their physicochemical properties determined. The density, viscosity, and surface tension of the molten salt increased with LaCl 3 content and decreased with increase in temperature in the NaCl-KCl-MgCl 2 -LaCl 3 -TiCl x molten salt system. For optimal separation of electrolytic products from the molten salt and electrolytic slag, lower LaCl 3 content and higher temperatures are recommended. Electrochemical tests revealed that the Ti precipitation reaction was quasi-reversible and diffusion-controlled. Finally, molten salt electrolysis experiments were conducted, showing that the oxygen content of the titanium powder decreased with increased temperature, LaCl 3 concentration, and electrolysis time. At 4 wt% LaCl 3 , titanium powder with a low oxygen content of 500 mass ppm oxygen was obtained by electrolysis at 850 °C and 2.5 V for 1 h. This study provides theoretical guidance for the low-cost, short-process preparation of low-oxygen titanium powder.