Abstract: Disclosed herein are reactors and methods for forming alloys based on titanium-aluminium or alloys based on titanium-aluminium inter-metallic compounds. The reactor comprises a first section having an inlet through which precursor material comprising titanium subchlorides and aluminium can be introduced. The first section is heatable to a first temperature at which reactions between the titanium subchlorides and aluminium can occur, and further comprises a gas outlet via which any gaseous by-product formed can be removed. The reactor also comprises a second section which can be heated to a second temperature at which reactions of material transferred from the first section can occur to form the titanium-aluminium based alloy, a gas driver adapted in use to cause any gaseous by-product formed in the reactions in the second section to move in a direction towards the first section, and an intermediate section between the first and second sections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the production of titanium alloys and titanium-aluminum inter-metallic compounds and alloys. Starting from a precursor material including titanium subchloride (titanium trichloride or titanium dichloride), the precursor material is reduced by aluminum to produce titanium-aluminum intermetallic complexes or alloys and aluminum chloride which is driven away from the reaction zone so as to favor the forward reaction and the production of the titanium-aluminum compounds. Starting from a precursor material of titanium subchloride avoids the problems associated with starting from titanium metal (which is expensive to produce) or titanium tetrachloride (a reaction very difficult to control), and results in the production of powdered forms of titanium-aluminum compounds with controllable composition.