Pressure Behaviors and Isothermal Kinetics of Magnesiothermic Reduction of Titanium Tetrachloride in a Semi-batch Reactor

Abstract

There is still no consensus on the pressure behaviors, thermal hazard, reaction pathways, and kinetic characteristics of magnesiothermic reduction of TiCl 4 , and theoretical innovations are required for further research of titanium sponge metallurgy. We determined e cient reaction pathways via chemical reaction stoichiometry methodology and proposed an innovative isothermal kinetic modeling approach for the magnesiothermic reduction of TiCl 4 . The net chemical reaction rate of the titanium sponge decreased with decreasing feeding rate of TiCl 4 and with increasing gauge pressure, to relieve its rapid pressurization and thermal runaway. The reaction order and activation energy were α = 1.30 and E a =60.85 ± 4.58 kJ•mol -1 at temperature range of 1053.0 K to 1073.0 K, respectively. And reaction order and activation energy were α = 1.50 and E a =56.46 ± 1.31 kJ•mol -1 at temperature range of 1073.0 K to 1123.0 K, respectively. The self-heating of magnesiothermic reduction of TiCl 4 causes its selfacceleration. And the autocatalytic effect of the sponge structure of the new-formed may play an irreplaceable role.