A thermochemical and experimental study for the conversion of ilmenite sand into fine powders of titanium compounds

The adiabatic temperatures and equilibrium phases in the FeTiO3-alpha Mg-C(B, Si)-kNaCl system (where alpha = 0.2-15, k = 0-3) were analyzed to predict the formation of fine powders of titanium compounds from natural ilmenite sand. From the parametric study, the critical variables were identified and optimized for the synthesis of FeTi, TiC, TiB2, and TiFeSi2 under a combustion regime. The experimentally measured temperatures were in good agreement with those predicted from thermochemical calculations in the 900-1800 degrees C range. The purified products were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The fine powders of titanium compounds were mainly single phase with a purity of at least 95 wt %. Considering the various stages of the synthetic process, a mechanism is proposed to explain how the process of ilmenite recovery occurred.