Plasma electrolyte production of titanium oxide powder
Abstract
The work is devoted to the research of plasma-electrolyte process realized in conditions of cathodic polarity of active metal electrode and its immersion into electrolyte to produce titanium oxide micro- and nanoparticles as well as titanium oxide-coated particles up to 10 μm in size. Two modes of discharge combustion differing in heat generation and concentration of electrolyte solution on particle size distribution were found to influence. Voltage increase can result in discharge combustion in arc mode due to thermal emission of electrons and intensive heating of titanium cathode. This, in its turn, leads to formation of titanium particles up to 10 μm in size, which surface is oxidized. It was found that discharge combustion in the regime with less heat emission leads to formation of titanium oxide particles sized less than 1 µm. These powders can be used in additive manufacturing, powder metal-lurgy and as additives in composite materials.