Pressure behaviors and isothermal kinetics of magnesiothermic reduction of titanium tetrachloride in a semi-batch reactor

Abstract There is still no consensus on the pressure behaviors, thermal hazard, reaction pathways, and kinetic characteristics of magnesiothermic reduction of TiCl4, and theoretical innovations are required for further research of titanium sponge metallurgy. We determined efficient reaction pathways via chemical reaction stoichiometry methodology and proposed an innovative isothermal kinetic modeling approach for the magnesiothermic reduction of TiCl4. The net chemical reaction rate of the titanium sponge decreased with decreasing feeding rate of TiCl4 and with increasing gauge pressure, to relieve its rapid pressurization and thermal runaway. The reaction order and activation energy were α = 1.30 and Ea=60.85 ± 4.58 kJ·mol-1 at temperature range of 1053.0 K to 1073.0 K, respectively. And reaction order and activation energy were α = 1.50 and Ea=56.46 ± 1.31 kJ·mol-1 at temperature range of 1073.0 K to 1123.0 K, respectively. The self-heating of magnesiothermic reduction of TiCl4 causes its self-acceleration. And the autocatalytic effect of the sponge structure of the new-formed may play an irreplaceable role.