Reaction between titanium dioxide and carbon in flowing helium stream

Abstract

The reaction between titanium dioxide and carbon in a flowing helium stream was studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Experimental results indicate that the order of phase transformations during the reaction was TiO₂(rutile) → Ti₄O₇ → Ti₃O₅ → Ti₂O₃ → TiO → TiC. A mechanism is proposed to explain the overall reaction. The reaction rate was found to increase with increasing sample thickness, reaction temperature, and initial bulk density and with decreasing helium flowrate, molar ratio of TiO₂/C, and grain size of titanium dioxide.