GB855665A - Improvements in or relating to processes for the electrolytic production of titaniummetal - Google Patents

Abstract

855,665. Electrodeposition of titanium. TIMAX CORPORATION. March 25, 1957 [May 18, 1956], No. 9728/57. Class 41. A process for the continuous electrolytic production of titanium is carried out in a cell divided into a plurality of compartments each containing an electrolyte sharing a liquid alloy electrode containing the electrolytes of said compartments, and containing titanium as a solute and a solvent of at least one of the groups of metals less electropositive than titanium with respect to halogens, (as hereinafter defined), and comprises electrolysing in one compartment of the said cell a fused salt electrolyte composed of at least one of the alkali and alkaline earth halides between the said liquid alloy electrode acting as a cathode and a dependent isoluble anode immersed in the said electroylte. Simultaneously feeding at least one titanium halide below the surface of the said liquid alloy electrode in the said compartment so as to discharge halogen at the said anode and supply the said liquid cathode with titanium, and simultaneously, in another compartment of the said cell, electrolysing a fused salt electrolyte composed of at least one of the alkali and akaline earth halides as a solvent and containing a lower halide of titanium as a solute, between the said liquid alloy electrode acting as an anode and a solid cathode immersed in the said electrolyte, thereby selectively dissolving the said titanium from the said liquid alloy electrode and depositing titanium on the said solid cathode. Specified metals for the liquid alloy are silver, tin, antimony, lead, zinc, copper, bismuth, cadmium, iron, nickel, colbalt or mixtures thereof. Specified alkaline earth metal halides include those of magnesium. Specified halides of titanium are the tetrachloride, trichloride and dichloride. As shown, the electrolytic cell 10 is formed into two compartments by partition 11 of graphite. The cell comprises a shell 16 of iron or nickel and lining 17 of graphite and contains liquid alloy 15, anolyte 14 and catholyte 13. The lining 17 is fitted with feed tube 21 whereby titanium halide can be fed as a gas or liquid below the surface of the liquid alloy in the anolyte section of the cell. The electrolyte may be replenished and inert gas fed to each compartment through feed ports 29 and 31. Anode 33 is of graphite, and cathode 34, of titanium is provided with removable tip 35 of titanium, nickel, iron or steel. Means indicated at 37 but not shown, are provided for vertically withdrawing the cathode. The anolyite compartment is fixed internally with an insulating layer 19 of aluminium. Upon passing cnrrent chlorine is evolved at the anode and led off through outlet 23 and titanium is deposited on the cathode. In an example, a mixture of sodium chloride and magnesium chloride is used as the anolyte and as the catholyte solvent and titanium tetrachloride is fed to the liquid alloy consisting of copper and titanium.