GB856359A - Improvements in electrolytic production of titanium metals - Google Patents

Abstract

856,359. Producing titanium by electrolysis. NEW JERSEY ZINC CO. April 6, 1959 [April 21, 1958], No. 11569/59. Class 41 Metallic titanium is produced by electrolysis of a fused halide bath 5 composed of at least one of the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal halides in an apparatus which is similar to that described in Specification 811,881, but which is modified by extending the imperforate portion 9 of the cathode upwardly from the bath surface to the cell cover 2 to separate the cell atmosphere D above the bath 5 near the side of the cathode 9 remote from the anode 15 from the atmosphere C above the bath 5 between the electrodes. An inert gas, e.g. argon, is delivered at 18 to remove chlorine at 19 from the atmosphere C, and titanium tetrachloride, mixed with argon, is delivered to the bath at 3, excess gas leaving at 4. Three eutectic bath mixtures are described. One is the same as that described in Specification 811,881, and the others comprise respectively 48À5 mol per cent NaCL and 51À5 mol per cent KCL, and 24 mol per cent BaCL, 35 mol per cent NaCL and 41 mol per cent KCL. Titanium ions of valency less than 4 are established in the bath by introducing Ti C1 2 directly, by dispersing finely dividel Ti metal in the bath and bubbling Ti C1 4 therethrough, by electrolysis of the bath while maintaining Ti Cl 4 in the cell atmosphere, or by introducing Ti Cl 3 into the bath. Specification 777,892 also is referred to.