The raw material for titanium products (including titanium rods) starts with sponge titanium. Today, we'll begin with knowledge about sponge titanium.
Simply put, it is the "original embryo" of the titanium industry. It is a porous metallic titanium with a purity usually between 99.1% and 99.7%. It has a loose and porous surface, is highly reactive, and is easily oxidized. It is the main raw material for preparing titanium alloys.
I. Basic Characteristics
Physical Properties: High melting point (1660±10℃), low specific gravity (4.506g/cm³), high specific strength, good toughness, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, and good high and low temperature tolerance.
Chemical Properties: Highly reactive and easily oxidized; requires storage and transportation in an inert gas (such as argon).
II. Production Process
Currently, the main industrial method for producing sponge titanium is the magnesothermic process (Kroll process). The production process includes titanium-rich material preparation, chlorination, titanium tetrachloride refining, reduction distillation, and magnesium chloride electrolysis. The magnesium reduction process involves reacting titanium tetrachloride with metallic magnesium in an argon atmosphere at 880℃～950℃ to obtain sponge-like metallic titanium and magnesium chloride. Vacuum distillation is then used to remove magnesium chloride and excess magnesium from the sponge titanium, thus obtaining pure titanium.
III. Classification and Standards Based on chemical composition and Brinell hardness, sponge titanium is classified into seven grades: 0A, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Grades 0A and 0 have the highest purity and are mainly used in high-end industries, military, and aerospace. Grades 1-5 have relatively lower quality and are mainly used in the chemical industry.
IV. Application Areas Sponge titanium has a wide range of applications, not only in many everyday items but also in seawater desalination, marine thermal energy development, and seabed resource development. It can also be used in the medical field as a functional material for artificial joints.
V. Market and Industry Currently, sponge titanium production is concentrated in a few countries, including Japan, the United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and China. All factories use a magnesium reduction-distillation combined process. China's titanium industry has developed under the direct leadership of the Party and the government, driven by the needs of national defense and economic construction.
VI. Safety and Transportation Sponge titanium is a hazardous material, UN number UN2878, belonging to Class 41 flammable solids. Its porous structure makes it particularly prone to oxidation and combustion, even in the absence of oxygen, such as in the presence of carbon dioxide or nitrogen. During transportation and storage, it must be packaged in open steel drums, vacuum-sealed and then filled with argon gas. The drums must be labeled "Argon-filled" and have a hazard warning label. A "Certificate of Cargo Transport Conditions" is required for transportation. It must never be mixed with oxidizers.
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