Patent ID: 9080224
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: B22F,C22B,C22C

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a titanium-aluminium based alloy, the method comprising the steps of: heating a precursor material comprising titanium subchlorides and aluminium up to a first temperature at which reactions between the titanium subchlorides and aluminium occur, and removing any gaseous by-product formed; moving the resultant material into an intermediate zone in which the material is heated to a temperature at which at least a portion of the material can accrete and form a cake on a surface located in the intermediate zone; moving non-caked material out of the intermediate zone and heating the non-caked material to a second temperature at which reactions to form the titanium-aluminium based alloy occur, whilst transferring any gaseous by-product formed to the intermediate zone where it can condense and mix with any cake on the surface; and periodically removing the caked material from the surface in the intermediate zone and heating it with the non-caked material to the second temperature.