Cavitation process for titanium products from precursor halides

A method of reducing a precursor halide composition comprising a titanium halide to yield a predetermined titanium-containing product, the method comprising:

• forming a reduction reaction medium for the precursor halide composition by dispersing a reductant composition for the halide(s) in an anhydrous liquid that is non-reactive with the reductant composition using vibrations to affect cavitation in the liquid, the reductant composition consisting essentially of at least one of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal;
• circulating a dry inert gas through the reduction reaction medium to assist cavitation in the medium and to reduce the oxygen content of the reduction reaction medium;
• and, while continuing the vibrations,
• adding the precursor halide composition to the reduction reaction medium to reduce the precursor halide composition to the predetermined titanium-containing product and to concurrently form a corresponding halide salt of the alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal(s).

A method of reducing a precursor halide composition comprising titanium tetrachloride to yield a predetermined titanium-containing product, the method comprising:

• forming a reduction reaction medium for the precursor halide composition by dispersing a reductant composition for the halide(s) in an anhydrous liquid that is non-reactive with the reductant composition using vibrations to affect cavitation in the liquid, the reductant composition consisting essentially of a mixture of sodium and potassium that is liquid at temperatures below about 30° C.;
• circulating a dry inert gas through the reduction reaction medium to assist cavitation in the medium and to reduce the oxygen content and water content of the reduction reaction medium;
• and, while continuing the vibrations,
• adding the precursor halide composition to the reduction reaction medium to reduce the precursor halide composition to the predetermined titanium-containing product and to concurrently form corresponding halide salts of the sodium and potassium;
• and
• separating the predetermined product from the halide salts of sodium and potassium.