Method and apparatus for the production of metal compounds

A method of producing titanium-aluminium compounds, comprising a first step of:

• heating an amount of titanium chloride (TiCl4) in a plasma of an inert gas and hydrogen mixture, to produce titanium subchloride(s);
• and then a second step of:
• mixing aluminium with said titanium subchloride(s), and heating the resultant mixture to produce titanium-aluminium compounds and AlCl3.

A stepwise method of producing titanium-aluminium compounds, comprising a first step of:

• reducing an amount of titanium chloride (TiCl4) with hydrogen in an inert gas atmosphere or in a vacuum, and at a temperature to trigger reactions to form titanium subchloride(s) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) products;
• and then a second step of:
• mixing said products with aluminium, and heating the mixture in a reaction zone to a temperature above 300 C. to form AlCl3 in a gas phase, and to produce an end product in the reaction zone of the titanium-aluminium compounds.

A stepwise method of producing titanium-aluminium compounds, comprising a first step of:

• heating a mixture of TiCl4 and aluminium to form products TiCl3 and AlCl3, at a temperature less than 300 C.;
• and then a second step of:
• mixing said products, with the addition of more aluminium if required, and heating the mixture to a reaction zone temperature above 300 C. to cause AlCl3 to be evaporated from the reaction zone and to form titanium-aluminium compounds.

A stepwise method of producing a metal-aluminium compound, comprising the first step of:

• adding a reducing agent to reduce an amount of a metal halide to form metal subhalide(s);
• and the second step of:
• mixing said metal subhalide(s) with aluminium, and heating the mixture in a reaction zone to a temperature above 300 C. to form aluminium halides in a gas phase, and to produce an end product in the reaction zone comprising a metal compound containing a percentage of aluminium.

A method for the production of vanadium and/or vanadium compounds, comprising the steps of mixing aluminium with a precursor material including vanadium subhalide, and heating the mixture, to form aluminium halides and vanadium and/or vanadium compounds.

A method for the production of zirconium and/or zirconium compounds, comprising the steps of mixing aluminium with a precursor material including zirconium subhalide, and heating the mixture, to form aluminium halides and zirconium and/or zirconium compounds.