Fused Salt Electrolysis of Titanium Metal from Ti-C-O Alloys or TiC

Abstract

Pure titanium metal was electrodeposited on a cathode by double fused salt electrolysis with the cell designed specifically for this work. Electrolysis was carried out in NaCl, NaCl-TiCl₂-TiCl₃ and NaCl-K₂TiF_x baths. The anode materials for the first stage electrolysis were Ti-C-O alloys or TiC prepared by carbon reduction of oxides such as TiO₂ (pigment or enamel grade), rutile ore, high titania slag in the vacuum furnace or in the electric arc furnace. The best result was obtained when TiC or high carbon and low oxygen Ti-C-O alloy was fed as the anode into the NaCl-K₂TiF_x bath. Under such a condition, the yield of titanium from the anode material reached 98.24% for the first stage electrolysis and 86% for the second one. A high purity (less than 95 B.H.N) was maintained thoughout the second step electrolysis.