Reduction of CaTiO₃ by Electrolysis in the Molten Salt CaCl₂-CaO

Abstract

The reduction of CaTiO₃ to generate Ti powder with a low content of oxygen was examined by electrolysis in a CaCl₂-CaO melt. Using various sizes of the raw oxide particles, the concentration profile of the residual oxygen in the cathode basket suggests a reduction mechanism involving calcium from the melt. The residual oxygen content was influenced by the dehydration method. Vacuum dehydration above the melting temperature and decomposition of CaCl₂ hydrates below 550 K were required to eliminate water. Optimization of both water removal and the oxide particle size produced the lowest oxygen content (0.42 mass%O) in the powder.