Papers by Keyword: FFC-Cambridge Process

Abstract: Powders of tantalum, niobium and an alloy thereof have been prepared by the electro-deoxidation of their oxide precursors in a eutectic melt of CaCl2-NaCl at 1098 K. The reduced products were characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and quantitative oxygen analysis. All metallic materials were of high purity and had porous nodular microstructures. The alloy powders were single phase, with a relatively wide particle size distribution and some variation in the local Ta-to-Nb ratio. The oxygen contents of the products were below 5000 ppm by mass.

Abstract: The current status and recent advancements in the use of the FFC Cambridge process for the production of low cost titanium and titanium powders is presented. This will include an overview of the process, current and future process equipment and recent results in terms of chemistry, structure and properties of powder and consolidated product. The future direction and activities for the FFC Cambridge process will also be briefly discussed.

Abstract: The FFC-Cambridge process is a molten salt electrochemical deoxidation method that was invented at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy of the University of Cambridge one decade ago. It is a generic technology that allows the direct conversion of metal oxides into the corresponding metals through cathodic polarisation of the oxide in a molten salt electrolyte based on calcium chloride. The process is rather universal in its applicability, and numerous studies on metals, semimetals, alloys and intermetallics have since been performed at the place of its invention and worldwide. The electro-winning of titanium metal is a particularly rewarding target because of the disadvantages of the existing extraction methods. This article summarises the research work performed on the FFC-Cambridge process at the University of Cambridge and its industrial partners with a focus on the electro-winning of titanium metal from titanium dioxide. Topics addressed encompass the invention of the process, early proof-of-concept work, the identification of the reaction pathway, and the investigation and optimisation of the key process parameters. Also discussed are aspects of technology transfer and some of the development work undertaken to date.