SIMULTANEOUS REDUCTION AND CARBURIZATION OF ILMENITE

Western Australian ilmenite was reduced using ''Collie'' coal at tempe ratures in the range 1587 to 1790 K to form carbon-saturated iron and titanium oxycarbide. The oxycarbide phase formed from Ti3O5 at tempera tures below 1686 K and from Ti2O3 at temperatures above 1686 K. At 168 6 K, both mechanisms occurred. The reaction rate was controlled by oxi dation of carbon by carbon dioxide generated by reduction of the oxide phase. The final product at temperatures up to 1686 K was a fine disp ersion of titanium oxycarbide in iron. At 1790 K, the reducing oxide t ended to remain intact and formed a coarser distribution. In general, manganese impurities from the ilmenite were confined to the iron phase in the product, although some of the coarser oxycarbide particles for med at 1790 K contained trapped manganese at the internal pores.