The reduction of titanium aluminate (Al2O3·TiO2) heated at 1500°C in various reducing atmospheres containing hydrogene has been studied.
The titanium aluminate is prepared by heating Al2O3-TiO2 compacts in air at 1650°C for four hours. For the identification of crystal structure in the specimens X-ray diffraction analysis is done with the Norelco type diffractometer, using Cu Kα radiation.
As shown in Fig. 4, X-ray patterns of Al2O3·TiO2 heated in different reducing atmospheres containing H2 have shown observable shift in the (33.0) line and the evidence of α-Al2O3. Under the condition of more stronger reducing atmosphere X-ray patterns show the formations of free Ti2O3 and α-Al2O3.
These data lead to the following conclusion for the reduction of Al2O3·TiO2;
Al2O3·TiO2→(Al2-x·Tix)O3·TiO2+Al2O3→Al2O3+Ti2O3.