**Mechanically Activated Rutile and Ilmenite as the Starting Materials for Process of Titanium Alloys Production**

Marcela Achimovičová, Christoph Vonderstein and Bernd Friedrich

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.68747

#### **Abstract**

The consumptive conventional process of titanium alloys production needs new inno‐ vative processes. As starting materials for aluminothermic reduction, natural TiO2 and FeTiO3 concentrates can be used. The keynote of the present chapter is mechanical acti‐ vation as a pre‐treatment step for these concentrates, which is realized by the milling in a vibratory industrial mill. Mechanically activated rutile ore used in aluminothermic reduction saved 30% booster expenses and decreased Cl2 emissions. Mechanical activa‐ tion of ilmenite and ilmenite/aluminum mixtures was performed, and the kinetics of subsequent hydrometallurgical production of synthetic TiO2 by pressure and normal leaching were studied. New processes with the coupling of aluminothermic production of titanium alloys were proposed.

**Keywords:** rutile, ilmenite, anatase, mechanical activation, aluminothermy, leaching
