| Title |
Effect of TiCl4 Feeding Rate on the Formation of Titanium Sponge in the Kroll Process |
| Authors |
이재찬(Jae Chan Lee); 손호상(Ho Sang Sohn); 정재영(Jae Young Jung) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.3365/KJMM.2012.50.10.745 |
| ISSN |
1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN) |
| Keywords |
Kroll process; TiCl4; titanium sponge; magnesium; reduction |
| Abstract |
The Kroll process for magnesium reduction of titanium tetrachloride is used for mass production of titanium sponge. The present study was conducted in a lab scale reactor to develop a better understanding of the mechanism of titanium sponge formation in the Kroll reactor with respect to reaction degrees and the feeding rate of TiCl4. The MgCl2 produced during the initial stage of the reaction was not sunk into the molten magnesium, but covered the surface of the molten magnesium. As a result, subsequently fed TiCl4 reacted with Mg exposed on the edge of molten MgCl2 in the crucible. Therefore, titanium sponge grew toward the center of the crucible from the edge. The temperature of the molten magnesium increased remarkably with the increasing feeding rate of TiCl4. Consequently, fed TiCl4 reacted at the upper side of the crucible with evaporated Mg, and produced titanium on the upper surface of the crucible wall, which increased considerably with the feeding rate of TiCl4. |