Process For The Production Of Crystalline Titanium Powder

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of crystalline titanium powder containing single crystals or agglomerates of single crystals having an average crystal size (by volume) greater than 1 µm said process including reacting a titanium chloride species preferably titanium dichloride and reducing metal in a continuous back mix reactor to produce a free flowing suspension of titanium powder in molten chloride salt wherein: i. both the titanium chloride species and the reducing metal are dissolved in a molten chloride salt and fed to the reactor containing a chloride salt of the reducing metal; ii. the average feed ratio of the titanium chloride species and reducing metal to the continuous back mix reactor is within 1% preferably within 0.1% of the stoichiometric ratio required to fully reduce the titanium chloride salt to titanium metal; iii. the concentration of titanium powder in the fluid suspension of titanium powder in molten salt in the continuous back mix reactor is between 2 and 23 mass%; and iv. The reducing metal is lithium sodium magnesium or calcium.

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