PRODUCTION OF METALLIC TITANIUM

PURPOSE:To inexpensively produce powdery metallic Ti having superior quality by reducing gaseous TiF4 by an Al-containing Zn bath and then removing Zn from the above Zn bath in which formed Ti is suspended under reduced pressure by evaporation. CONSTITUTION:Solid TiF4 is heated to about 250-990 deg.C to undergo vaporization. The resulting gaseous TiF4 is supplied into an Al-containing Zn bath and molten salt of about 600-1000 deg.C consisting of a solvent of alkali metal salt on the above bath, where TiF4 is reduced by Al in the Zn bath into Ti and AlF3. The above Ti is suspended in the above Zn bath, and the above AlF3 is absorbed by the above solvent. Subsequently, the above Zn bath is separated from the solvent and moved into a distiller, and Zn is separated by evaporation under reduced pressure, by which powdery metallic Ti is obtained and liquid Zn is recovered. On the other hand, the AlF3-containing solvent is heated under reduced pressure and AlF3 is recovered by evaporation, or, if necessary, AlF3 is decomposed by H2O and recovered in the form of HF and Al2O3.