Titanium extraction

—> titanium can be extracted from its ore - rutile (or ilmenite - FeTiO3)

—> can’t be extracted using carbon (electrolysis)

• Ti reacts with C to for Titanium carbide (TiC)
• the presence of carbide make the Ti very brittle
• 2 stages to the extraction process
• Batch process : small amounts are made at a time

—> expensive

• 2 step process
• conditions : high temperatures
• use of chlorine and magnesium (which is extracted from its ore to be used)

1. Conversion of titanium(IV) oxide to titanium(IV) chloride
TiO2 (s) + 2CI2 (g) + 2C (g) -> TiCI4 (g) + 2CO (g)

2. Titanium chloride is then reduced using magnesium to produce titanium
TiCI2 (g) + 2Mg (l) -> Ti (s) + 2MgCI2 (s)

—> Mg (or any metal) is put into a steel reactor and the TiCI4 is pumped in

—> the reactor is sealed and heated to 1200°C

—> argon atmosphere - Ti produced would react with oxygen/water present

• any O2 / N2 present would make the metal brittle

—> reactor is left for 2 days before the titanium is removed

—> a large reactor will only produce 1 tonne of titanium a day - small

• lightweight -> low density
• malleable (can be shaped into the joint)
• resistant to corrosion
• non-toxic
• high melting point
• unreactive (in human body)
• durable / resits fatigue
• can resist high energy forces

• joint replacement
• tooth implants
• jewellery
• prosthetics
• scissors
• bicycle frames
• surgical tools
• mobile phones