The de-oxidation of partially oxidized titanium by hydrogen plasma

Abstract

The reduction of titanium dioxide by hydrogen plasma is a technical challenge. If successful, it would open the door to an environmentally friendly and economical method to produce titanium. To date, various attempts to reduce TiO2 using hydrogen plasma have obtained TiO at best, contrary to thermodynamic predictions based on the reactivity of hydrogen atoms. The re-oxidation by the water vapour by-product may be one of the mechanisms responsible for limiting reduction. In an effort to improve the understanding of the reduction mechanisms, coupons of titanium metal were partially oxidised and then exposed to a hydrogen plasma environment. Experimental results have shown that thicker oxide la..