Synthesis of TiCl2 powders through reactive gas phase infiltration in a fluidized bed reactor

TiCl 2 is a promising precursor for producing metallic titanium alloys and titanium-based ceramics. However, the effective synthesis of high-quality TiCl 2 powder remains challenging. Herein, a fluidized bed reactor (FBR) providing a high gas–solid contact area was employed to synthesize TiCl 2 powder using a reliable TiCl 4 –Ti reaction system. Optimal reaction conditions (600   °C and 120   min) were determined for the proposed Ti–TiCl 4 system by kinetic investigation. A dense Ti layer was regenerated upon the original surface of the Ti powder as a result of TiCl 2 disproportionation at high temperature (above 700   °C), which impeded infiltration by gaseous TiCl 4 . The particle size of the Ti reducing agent played a vital role in the production of TiCl 2 powder. A mean particle size of 24.5   μm was confirmed to be the most feasible option based on the optimal chlorinated depth (17   μm).