Influence of Temperature on Reaction Mechanism of Ilmenite Ore Smelting for Titanium Production

Journal Article · Thu Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2019 · Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. B, Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S11663-019-01604-1· OSTI ID:22933533

Kim, Dong Hyeon; Kim, Tae Sung ^[1]; Heo, Jung Ho ^[2]; Park, Hyun Sik ^[3]

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1. Hanyang University, Department of Materials Engineering (Korea, Republic of)
2. Research & Development Center, LS-Nikko Copper (Korea, Republic of)
3. Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Resources Recovery Research Center (Korea, Republic of)

The carbothermic smelting reduction process of ilmenite ore at high temperature was investigated by thermodynamic calculations in conjunction with smelting experiments. Based on thermodynamic calculations, conducting the smelting process at a higher temperature was recommended to achieve a larger amount of FeO reduction, i.e., higher Ti-enrichment, as less precipitate and thus large amounts of a liquid slag were predicted. However, even though the reduction of FeO in ilmenite ore at the initial stage seemed to be faster as the temperature increased, no significant difference in the TiO{sub 2} or FeO concentration was observed after the reaction was complete, regardless of the temperature. This was caused by the precipitation of pseudobrookite due to the local depletion of FeO during reaction at higher temperatures, by which further reduction reaction was prohibited. The apparent rate constant increased with increasing temperature and the activation energy of the reduction process was estimated to be 144 kJ/mol, from which it was concluded that the reduction reaction of FeO in ilmenite slag by carbonaceous reductant was generally controlled through the mass transfer in the slag phase. Additionally, the formation of TiC also occurred in the iron bath. At 1923 K (1650 °C), approx. 20 pct more TiC was generated as compared to TiC formation at 1823 K (1550 °C), which also prevented further reduction of Fe at higher temperatures.

• OSTI ID: 22933533
• Journal Information: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. B, Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science, Journal Name: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. B, Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 50; ISSN MTBSEO; ISSN 1073-5615
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ACTIVATION ENERGY
CONCENTRATION RATIO
ILMENITE
IRON OXIDES
LIQUIDS
MASS TRANSFER
PRECIPITATION
REACTION KINETICS
REDUCTION
SMELTING
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K
THERMODYNAMICS
TITANIUM
TITANIUM CARBIDES
TITANIUM OXIDES