THERMAL EXPLOSION SYNTHESIS OF TITANIUM HYDRIDE POWDERS

Titanium hydride (TiH2) is used in the fields of pyrotechnics, metallurgy, and hydrogen (H-2) storage. Different pyrotechnic compositions and flash powders contain mixtures of TiH2 with potassium perchlorate. Because of its high H-2 content (about 4%), TiH2 is also used as a H-2 storage medium. Hydrides offer a compact H-2 storage option, minimizing the H-2 effective volume and improving the H-2 storage safety. The traditional method of TiH2 production consists of a long exposure of Ti metal to H-2 at elevated temperature and pressure. This paper describes a new thermal explosion method for production of TiH2, as well as a parametric investigation using the new experimental technique to evaluate the H-2 content in the resulting hydride.