Titanium plate has the characteristics of low density, high specific strength, corrosion resistance, etc., and has huge application potential in the automotive industry. The use of titanium and titanium alloys in automobiles can save fuel, reduce engine noise and vibration, and increase service life. In order for titanium to enter the automotive market, in addition to its own functional advantages, it must further reduce its cost to a level acceptable to the automotive industry. Titanium plate metallurgical parts for automobiles are a promising category. Choosing leading titanium plate metallurgy technology to prepare titanium plate metallurgical parts can not only greatly reduce the cost, but also help the promotion of titanium and its alloys in the automotive industry, making it a major application category second only to the aerospace industry. The development of low-cost titanium and its alloy titanium plates can provide low-cost materials for automotive titanium plate metallurgical parts.
Judging from the existing technology, the sponge Ti powder method, the hydrogenation dehydrogenation method and the metal hydride restoration method are most suitable for the automotive industry.
1. Sponge Ti powder method
This is currently a way to meet the needs of the automotive industry for titanium plates in terms of cost. First, use traditional sponge titanium and the remaining materials in the process to break it; the resulting titanium plates are often thicker and rich in chlorine. Experiments show that for every 100 grams of magnesium and 400 grams of titanium tetrachloride, about 100 grams of titanium powder with a particle size of tens of microns can be prepared, the production capacity has been doubled, and the cost has been reduced by 50%. It is expected to be used as a material for titanium plate metallurgical titanium products.
2. Hydrogenation dehydrogenation method
This method has become the main method for preparing titanium powder at home and abroad due to its wide particle size planning, low cost, non-strict material requirements, and easy process completion.At present, titanium plates with an O content of less than 0.20% have been produced, and mass production has been completed, which is expected to provide stable titanium plates for metallurgical parts of titanium plates for automobiles.
3. Metal hydride restoration method
TiCl4 can be restored with hydrogen at 3500°C, and TiO2 can be restored with carbon heat above 1800°C. In order to reduce the reaction temperature, scientists in the former Soviet Union proposed to use CaH2 to restore TiO2 and TiCl4, which can be carried out at a temperature of 1100-1200 ℃, the reaction generates TiH2, and then de-H to obtain Ti powder. Although the Ti powder produced by this method has a higher H content, it is reported that the presence of a small amount of H is beneficial to the sintering of the titanium plate and the improvement of the microscopic arrangement, and can be completely removed in the subsequent vacuum sintering and annealing process.