Method for manufacturing titanium metal powder or titanium alloy powder

Abstract

Provided is a method for producing highly pure titanium metal powder or titanium alloy powder which may be used in various fields. The method includes steps of: a) partially reducing each of at least one metal oxide and a titanium oxide; b) preparing a first mixture by mixing the partially reduced metal oxide and titanium oxide together; c) preparing a second mixture by mixing the first mixture with calcium hydride; and d) producing titanium metal or a titanium alloy by completely reducing the second mixture.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for producing titanium metal powder or titanium alloy powder, the method comprising steps of:
 a) partially reducing each of at least one metal oxide and a titanium oxide;   b) preparing a first mixture by mixing the partially reduced metal oxide and titanium oxide together;   c) preparing a second mixture by mixing the first mixture with calcium hydride; and   d) producing titanium metal or a titanium alloy by completely reducing the second mixture.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step of partially reducing the first mixture, after step b) and before step c). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the partial reduction in step a) and the complete reduction in step d) are performed by heat treatment at a temperature of 1,000° C. to 1,500° C. under a hydrogen atmosphere for 1 to 10 hours. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the partial reduction in step a) and the complete reduction in step d) are performed by heat treatment at a temperature of 1,000° C. to 1,500° C. under a hydrogen atmosphere for 1 to 10 hours. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising step of e) crushing and powdering the produced titanium metal or titanium alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of CaO, V 2 O 5 , Cr 2 O 3 , Nb 2 O 5 , MoO 3 , WO 3 , Y 2 O 3  and ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a stoichiometric ratio between the first mixture and the calcium hydride is 1:1.1 to 1.25. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second mixture further contains aluminum and vanadium oxide (V 2 O 5 ) powders. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the titanium alloy is Ti-6Al-4V. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the titanium metal and the titanium alloy have an oxygen content of less than 0.3 wt % and a particle size distribution of less than 50 μm. 
     
     
         24 . Titanium metal powder or titanium alloy powder produced by the method of  claim 14  and having an oxygen content of less than 0.3 wt % and a particle size distribution of less than 50 μm. 
     
     
         25 . A method for producing titanium metal powder or titanium alloy powder, the method comprising steps of:
 a) partially reducing one of at least one metal oxide and a titanium oxide;   b) preparing a first mixture by mixing the partially reduced one with the other of the metal oxide and the titanium oxide;   c) preparing a second mixture by mixing the first mixture with calcium hydride; and   d) producing titanium metal or a titanium alloy by completely reducing the second mixture.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising a step of partially reducing the first mixture, after step b) and before step c). 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the partial reduction in step a) and the complete reduction in step d) are performed by heat treatment at a temperature of 1,000° C. to 1,500° C. under a hydrogen atmosphere for 1 to 10 hours. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the partial reduction in step a) and the complete reduction in step d) are performed by heat treatment at a temperature of 1,000° C. to 1,500° C. under a hydrogen atmosphere for 1 to 10 hours. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising step of e) crushing and powdering the produced titanium metal or titanium alloy. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of CaO, V 2 O 5 , Cr 2 O 3 , Nb 2 O 5 , MoO 3 , WO 3 , Y 2 O 3  and ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein a stoichiometric ratio between the first mixture and the calcium hydride is 1:1.1 to 1.25.