How To Improve Ferrotitanium Recovery Rate?

What is Ferrotitanium?

Ferrotitanium is an iron and titanium alloy with a typical titanium content of 15% to 45%. used in the steelmaking process as a steel cleaner. Titanium is important for deoxidation, desulfurization, and denitrification in the steelmaking process because of its high reactivity with sulphur, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. This reactivity allows titanium to produce insoluble compounds and sequester them in the slag. Steel becomes a metal with a finer grain structure when titanium is added. Ferrotitanium models include 30, 40, 70, etc.

Iron and titanium scrap can be combined to create ferrotitanium, which is then melted in an induction furnace. In order to improve the strength, hardness, and resistance to corrosion of steel and cast iron, it is also added throughout the production process. Furthermore, because ferro titanium may enhance a product’s performance at high temperatures, it finds application in the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries.

In addition, ferrotitanium powder is well-known for its application in pyrotechnic compositions. Additionally, it is employed in the creation of alloys to boost their machining capabilities and resistance to wear. Ferro titanium is frequently used in tool and stainless steels in the steel industry, where it strengthens, boosts mechanical characteristics and improves corrosion resistance.

Overall, because of its special qualities and reactivity with other elements, ferrotitanium is essential to the manufacturing of alloys, steel, and other industrial applications.

How to Improve Ferrotitanium Recovery Rate?

On Earth, titanium is incredibly abundant. Only a handful of the more than 140 different types of titanium-containing minerals that are present in the earth’s crust can currently be extracted for profit. There are two types of mineral deposits that are mined for titanium: placer deposits and rock deposits. Igneous rock minerals, or rock deposits, are characterised by concentrated deposits and substantial reserves.

This kind of deposit mostly contains minerals such as titanium magnetite, ilmenite, etc. Steel manufacturing makes extensive use of ferro titanium. It is a denitrification agent, alloy additive, and deoxidizer. This unique alloy has several applications. During the steelmaking process, it is added to steel as an alloying element that can improve the structure. enhanced steel strength, crystal grains, and fixed interstitial elements (carbon, nitrogen).

High-grade stainless steel and iron-based high-temperature alloys require high titanium iron as an essential alloy ingredient. The demands for ferrotitanium quality and variety are rising steadily in tandem with the improvement in steel quality and variety. High-ferrotitanium with a high titanium content is in higher demand on the global market. Gradually, a number of techniques to enhance ferrotitanium recycling have been investigated. economical, efficient ways to lower production expenses.

• Pre-Deoxidization and Advanced Deoxidization: SiMn alloys and Al blocks can be used for pre-deoxidization during the reduction stage of an AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization) furnace when smelting titaniferous stainless steel. Using the Al blocks, advanced deoxidization can be carried out after this. By taking these actions, the titanium recovery rate in the AOD furnace can be increased.
• Slag-Exchanging Operation: To make sure that the reduced slag in the AOD furnace is less than a specific threshold, like three tonnes, a slag-exchanging operation can be carried out following pre-deoxidization. The titanium healing rate may increase as a result of this procedure.
• Addition of Ferrotitanium Blocks: By increasing the yield of ferrotitanium, ferrotitanium blocks can help improve the pace at which titanium is recovered in the AOD furnace. It is suggested that, in order to avoid problems such as fracturing and continuous casting of intrusive water gap scaffolding, the recovery rate of titanium in the AOD furnace should be greater than 80%.
• Process Optimisation: By examining the effects of adding different amounts of exothermal agent (NaClO3), slag-forming agent (CaO), and reducing agent (Al) on the recovery ratio of Ti, the aluminothermic process for making ferrotitanium alloy from an ilmenite concentrate can be optimised. This can help with the creation of new processes as well as the enhancement of existing ones that produce ferrotitanium alloy using the aluminothermic process.

Ferrotitanium Smelting Method

1. Electric Induction Furnace Method: In the crucible of an ordinary electric induction furnace, titanium concentrate, rutile, lime, steel, and other ore charges are added in accordance with a formula for smelting ferrotitanium alloy. After the mixture has completely melted, it is heated to 1800–2200 degrees Celsius and then put into a crucible or smelting furnace designed to withstand temperatures above 3000 degrees Celsius. The fully melted ore is combined with heat enhancer potassium chlorate and metallic aluminium particles to create a rutile-type ferrotitanium alloy.
2. Induction Furnace Method without Flux: This alternate technique entails melting ferrotitanium in an induction furnace without flux, with a titanium content ranging from 65-75%. This process involves fusing the necessary mass of metal with the subsequent discharge of the melt from the furnace, as well as aiming liquid bath additions, such as mixes, to the desired composition. By using Armco iron at a steady flow on the surface of the molten metal bath, an inert gas with a specific gravity greater than the specific weight is created in the liquid metal bath using this method.
3. Aluminothermic Process: This method of processing fine dust offers a path towards ferrotitanium. It is then successfully applied to titania slag, smelting it in a thermal plasma reactor with lime and common household aluminium scrap chips. The foundation of this approach is the potential to alter the equilibrium conditions for distinct phases of chemical reactions occurring within the melt.
4. Perrin Process: This process comprises uniformly mixing rutile, titaniferous iron concentrate, reducing agents, sodium chlorate, and lime in a specific ratio to produce 70# ferrotitanium with high titanium. The mixture is put into a specially designed sealed reaction furnace that can withstand high temperatures and pressures, and the appropriate amount of magnesium chips is topped off the mixture. To light the magnesium chips and initiate the smelting reaction, an electric ignition source is used outside the furnace.
5. Vacuum Arc Water-Cooled Crystallizer Method: This technique comprises pressing iron shavings and chip titanium alloys, which melt in the vacuum arc water-cooled crystallizer, to generate ferrotitanium. This process aims to fully remelt titanium shavings and produce cast titanium ingots with a predetermined chemical composition.