Reduction of titanium oxide by molten silicon to synthesize titanium silicide

Abstract

Titanium silicide was synthesized via the reaction of titanium oxide bearing slag and molten silicon. Results indicated that titanium oxide in slag was reduced by silicon with an intermetallic bulk being formed. This novel synthesis method is a three-layer refining process that is much simpler and could reduce the cost of titanium silicide production significantly. Moreover, this novel and low-cost synthesis method of Ti5Si3 provides a new way to produce high purity titanium.