Preparation of V–4Cr–4Ti Alloys from Mixed Oxides via Electro-Deoxidation Process in Molten Salt

Abstract

V–4Cr–4Ti alloys exhibit important advantages as a candidate structural materials for fusion reactor first-walls and blanket applications. V–4Cr–4Ti alloys were prepared by direct electrochemical reduction of the solid mixture of V2O3, Cr2O3 and TiO2 in the molten CaCl2–NaCl eutectic at 1073 K. The influence of cell voltage, sintering temperature and electrolysis time on the electrolysis process are reported. The microstructure and phase compositions of the products were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) during the electrolysis process. The results showed that V–4Cr–4Ti alloys can be obtained at the voltage of 3.1 V and the time of 0.5 h. Cr2O3 was first reduced to Cr metal, while V2O3 and TiO2 was reduced to low-valence oxide of vanadium and titanium. The reduction rate increases with increasing cell voltage, with much perovskite oxide formed during the electrolysis process.

Keywords

• V–4Cr–4Ti
• fusion reactor
• electrochemistry
• electro-deoxidation
• molten salt