Titanium Slag Production Process
Titanium dioxide is the base for titanium and its alloy production, with relatively few impurities. In particular, this can be rutile concentrate obtained during titanium ores concentration. However, the world's rutile reserves are somewhat limited, so synthetic rutile or titanium slag, obtained by ilmenite concentrates processing, is more commonly used.
It is a primary commercial (semi-finished) product in the technological chain of obtaining metallic titanium, titanium-based alloys, and highly processed products.
Titanium slag production is commercially feasible due to its high demand in the global market.
The fields of its application are as follows:
Titanium is one of the most biologically inert metals. In medicine, it is used for creating prostheses due to its corrosion resistance, lightweight nature, and endurance.
Titanium slag production is accompanied by certain hazardous factors, as with any other metallurgical process. Environmental and personnel safety are achieved through strict adherence to technological standards due to the advantages of titanium slag production with a single-stage method in closed-type ore-thermal furnaces and through extensive use of process automation and control systems, which enable the smelting process to be conducted optimally.
There is also a high world demand for inorganic pigments, which is constantly growing. According to experts' estimations, the share of pigmentary titanium dioxide in the total consumption of inorganic pigments is around 65-70%, and that in the consumption of white pigments exceeds 90% in the last few years.
The aerospace sector is the major consumer of metallic titanium in the market. Most experts emphasize the necessity for further development of its global production.
The industry's promising future is indicated by the continuous growth of applications of titanium and titanium-based products. Along with the constant application growth of titanium alloys in the aerospace industry (especially in civil and military aviation), titanium is widely used in the construction of desalination plants, oil and gas industry, petrochemicals, medicine, sports, and mechanical engineering.
Deep processing of sponge titanium allows for a significant increase in the product-added value. According to the International Titanium Association, their value can double if titanium ingots are processed into semi-finished products. The value of sports goods increases if compared to ingots by 12-200 times, the cost of automobiles rises by 50-100 times, consumer goods – by 100-800 times, medical components – by 200-10,000 times, and jewelry – by 1,000-10,000 times.
Raw materials for titanium slag production
Titanium is recognized as the ninth most abundant chemical element extracted from the crust of our planet, and its global reserves amount to 0.6% of the Earth's mass. It often occurs in ore deposits in the form of chemical compounds with iron or oxygen.
Its global market is relatively closed regarding export-import dynamics, with the producing countries also being its primary consumers. The high costs and complexity of its production can explain it.
