Decomposition behavior of titanium hydride treated by surface oxidation

Titanium hydride attracts more attention as foaming agent in the fabrication of cellular metal materials. In order to meet most aluminum casting alloy’s melting properties, the heat treatment processes for TiH₂ particles were investigated in a rotating device. In the present work, the most two important dynamic parameters, the treating temperature and oxidation interval, were taken under consideration. The decomposition behavior of titanium hydride was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the residual hydrogen content, morphologies and phase conversion were also characterized by hydrogen determinator, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. The results show that the effect of temperature on the formation of oxidation film and decomposition behavior of TiH₂ is more significant than that of oxidation time. The onset temperature and peak value of TiH₂ decomposition shift from left to right through elevating temperature and extending time. Heat treatment process for TiH₂ at 500 °C between 1 and 5 h in air is favorable for preparing aluminum foam.