Preparation of Titanium from TiCl4 in a Molten Fluoride-chloride Salt

Titanium was prepared from TiCl4 in molten NaCl-KCl-NaF salt. The product of the reaction of TiCl4 with NaF was identified using X-ray diffraction, and its electrochemical behavior was studied using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. The electrochemical deposition of titanium was investigated during the addition of TiCl4 to NaCl-KCl-NaF melts. The results indicate that Na2TiF6 was first obtained through the reaction of NaF with TiCl4 in the NaF-KCl-NaCl melt, and Na2TiF6 was decomposed to Na+ and [TiF6]2− in the melts. [TiF6]2− was then sequentially reduced to [TiF6]3− and Ti at the cathode, accompanied by chlorine gas emission at the anode and fluoride formation at the cathode.