Preparation of TiC/SiC composites from Ti-enriched slag by an electrochemical process in molten salts

TiC/SiC composites were successfully prepared from Ti-enriched slag via an electro-deoxidization process in molten CaCl2-NaCl eutectic melt at 700 degrees C in argon. Electrolysis was conducted at an applied voltage of 3.2 V using a graphite anode and a composite cathode composed of graphite powder and Ti-enriched slag. According to the results, a possible reaction pathway was suggested: firstly the complex Ti-compounds were decomposed into TiO2-based simple oxides; then a mass of CaTiO3 and a spot of CaSiO3 formed accompanied by the reduction of titanium dioxide to titanium sub-oxide such as TiO, Ti2O; finally the graphite powder involved in the formation of SiC, TiC1-xOx, which were further converted into SiC and TiC by prolonging electrolysis. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.