GB511945A - Improvements in and relating to the production of titanium carbides - Google Patents

Abstract

511,945. Titanium carbides. LEEMANS, J. P., and SOC. GENERALE METALLURGIQUE DE HOBOKEN. Feb. 22, 1938, No. 5611. [Class 1(ii)] Titanium carbides are obtained by subjecting an ore of titanium or a metallurgical byproduct containing titanium in oxide form to a reducing operation in the presence of a sufficient amount of iron and with the addition of an excess of carbon (e.g. coke, charcoal, &c.) to obtain an impure alloy containing iron and the titanium concentrated in the form of carbides and subjecting this impure alloy to a further treatment, e.g. crushing or granulation followed by a leaching with acid, for separating the titanium carbide. The iron may be initially present in the oxide form. The smelting operation may be conducted in an electric furnace. According to a modification the reducing operation is carried out in the presence of iron in an electric furnace, e.g. an arc furnace, the crucible part and/or the shaft part of which are wholly or in part made of carbon bricks or tamped with carbon. In this latter modification metal reducing agents such as aluminium, and/or magnesium and/or calcium may be added to the charge. An example relates to the use of ilmenite as the initial material, the subsequent extraction being effected with sulphuric acid and the solid residue being subjected to a mechanical concentration in order to separate the heavy carbide of titanium particles therefrom.