Titanium sponge

The titanium sponge is a porous metallic titanium obtained by the magnesium reduction method or the sodium reduction method of titanium tetrachloride. It appears as light gray particles or blocks, with a loose and porous surface resembling a sponge structure.

Its core characteristics include:1.Purity: 99.1%~99.7% (quality),total impurities 0.3%~0.9%, oxygen content 0.06%~0.20%;2.physical properties: Hardness (HB) 100~157, density only 60% of steel, but strength close to steel, with the ability to withstand high temperatures (500℃) and low temperatures (-253℃); 3.Grade classification: divided into five grades from WHTiO to MHTi4 based on purity, with lower grades having higher purity.                                                                                                                  

Production process of titanium sponge is divided into two major steps as below: 

1.Chlorination Process: Bubbling Chlorination(main method in the world): Using high-grade titanium-rich materials (such as high-titanium slag, rutile) as raw materials, reacting in a chlorine gas flow to produce titanium tetrachloride. This method is widely used in China, Japan, and the United States. Molten Salt Chlorination: Suitable for high-calcium magnesium raw materials, commonly used in CIS countries, with a low reaction temperature (800℃) and minimal impurity residues.                                             

 2.Reduction and Distillation: Titanium tetrachloride reacts with magnesium in argon gas at 880-950℃, producing titanium sponge and magnesium chloride, which is then purified by vacuum distillation to remove impurities, ultimately yielding titanium lumps (solid blocks of titanium sponge).

The titanium sponge is the basic raw material of the titanium industry and needs to be further melted into titanium ingots before it can be processed into: Titanium materials: used in aerospace (engines, fuselage structures), chemical industry (corrosion-resistant equipment), and medical fields (artificial joints), among others. Titanium alloys: performance is enhanced by adding elements such as aluminum and vanadium to meet the demands for high strength and lightweight.