Calcium-containing titanium ores, such as perovskite, or calcium oxide-enriched titania slags are fused with carbon to produce titanium carbide particles within a calcium carbide matrix. The titanium carbide particles are freed from the fused product by reaction with water and are concentrated by physical means. Chlorination of the titanium carbide concentrate at temperatures below the melting point of impurity metal chlorides yields an extremely pure titanium tetrachloride product. Thus, a sample of perovskite from an alkalic stock intrusion near Powderhorn, Colorado, containing ti 31.3, Ca 21.4, and fe 6.1 pct, was mixed with carbon and fused in a single-phase, arc melting furnace. The charge was fed to the area between the electrodes by a vibratory feeder at a rate that maintained the reaction temperature, which was measured by a two-color ratio pyrometer. The temperature in the melt zone was approximately 2,400 deg and at the periphery of the fused mass, 1,900 deg c. A sample of the cooled, fused mass analyzed c 14.9, Fe 7.19, Ti 45.6, Ca 21.0, Sio2 2.49, Al2o3 0.60, and mgo 0.23 pct. The remainder of the fused mass was added slowly to water with stirring. Evolved acetylene was burned and the combustion products were vented to the atmosphere. Particulate titanium carbide was recovered from the resulting slurry based on physical property differences of the titanium carbide, hydrated lime, and free carbon present. See also U.S. Pat. 3,899,569.
U.S. Pat. 3,900,552, Aug. 19, 1975; Chem. Abstr. Not Found