Production of Titanium Metal at Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.

Abstract

Toho Titanium has been producing titanium metal since 1954.
The present production capacity of sponge titanium is about 14,000 tons per year. In order to increase the capacity, the productivity of the process has been improved in the chlorination of ores, reduction of TiCl₄, and electorolysis of MgCl₂. Also, the quality of sponge titanium has been remarkably improved since 1980. For example, the concentration of nitrogen, which is an undesirable impurity, has been reduced to approximately one fifth for 26 years.
Then, the production capacity of titanium ingot is 9,000 tons per year, which is being planned to increase to 19,000 tons per year in 2008.
As an advanced melting, electron-beam remelting furnaces have been introduced for commercial markets. The furnaces can efficiently recycle various shapes of titanium scrap.