Direct TiH powder production by the reduction of TiO using Mg in Ar and H mixed gas atmosphere.

To develop a direct production process for TiH powder from TiO, the reduction of TiO using Mg in molten MgCl - KCl salt under a high hydrogen chemical potential was investigated. The reduction of nano-sized TiO powder was conducted at 973 - 1073 K under an Ar or Ar and 10% H mixed gas atmosphere when the mass ratios of Mg to feed and salt to feed were 1.14 - 2.86 and 0.87 - 3.48, respectively. The results showed that the oxygen concentration in the Ti product decreased as the mass ratio of salt to feed and temperature decreased. Furthermore, according to the variation in Mg amounts, the oxygen concentration was 0.350 - 0.441 mass%. In addition, employing hydrogen during the reduction enhances the capability to decrease the oxygen concentration in the Ti product. Moreover, the hydrogen concentration in the Ti product increased as the amount of molten salt decreased, thereby enabling pure TiH production. As a result, TiH powder with an oxygen concentration of 0.350 mass% was obtained under a certain condition. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the direct production of low-oxygen TiH powder from TiO via reduction at 973 K using Mg in an Ar and H mixed gas atmosphere.