An Investigation on Electrodeposition of Titanium in Molten LiCl-KCl

A molten LiCl-KCl (40.8:59.2, mol%) eutectic salt was used as an electrolyte due to its relatively low melting point. The molar ratio of fluoride ions and titanium ([F−]/[Tin+] ratio) was employed as a parameter to illustrate the influence of fluoride anions on the electrochemical behaviors of Ti(III), and KF was used as a source of fluoride ions. A study on the electrochemical properties of Ti(III) was carried out in molten LiCl-KCl-KF. Results suggest that there are two steps for reducing Ti(III) in molten LiCl-KCl: Ti(III) → Ti(II) and Ti(II) → Ti. Ti(III) can be reduced directly to Ti in one step when KF was added in the melt in increasing amount. Metallic titanium was produced when [F−]/[Tin+] equals to 10, and it is dendrites with a layer structure. The oxygen contents in the titanium crystal are 1200 ppm.