Direct production of alloys based on titanium aluminides

Direct production of alloys based on titanium aluminides has been demonstrated via two-step aluminothermic reduction of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). In the first step, TiCl4 is reduced by aluminium to titanium trichloride (TiCl3) at a temperature below the boiling point of TiCl4 and at 1 atm under argon. The resulting TiCl3 intermediate product is then reacted with aluminium at temperatures up to around 1000 °C, leading to synthesis of a Ti–Al alloy powder. In addition, alloying additives such as Nb, Cr, Mo and C have also been included in various concentrations.