Preparation of molten salt electrolytes containing divalent titanium

摘要

Divalent titanium is prepared by the reduction of higher valence titanium halides in a molten salt electrolyte for subsequent titanium deposition with aluminum to form alloys exhibiting excellent mechanical properties for use at high temperatures. At least one aluminum halide such as AlCl3 is combined with aluminum metal, at least one titanium halide such as TiCl3 where the titanium has a valence greater than two, and at least one salt capable of forming a melt with said aluminum halide at temperatures up to about 250 DEG C. to form a molten salt electrolyte. The salt may be an alkali, alkaline earth or organic halide. Upon heating in an inert atmosphere at a temperature greater than the melting point of the electrolyte, the higher valence titanium is reduced by aluminum metal to form divalent titanium. Titanium-aluminum alloys of up to 50 atomic percent titanium can then be deposited from the electrolyte.