Calcium titanate

Synthesis

CaTiO3 can be prepared by the combination of CaO and TiO2 at temperatures 1300 °C. Sol-gel processes has been used to make a more pure substance, as well as lowering the synthesis temperature. These compounds synthesized are more compressible due to the powders from the sol-gel process as well and bring it closer to its calculated density (~4.04 g/ml).

Structure

Calcium titanate is obtained as orthorhombic crystals, more specifically perovskite structure. In this motif, the Ti(IV) centers are octahedral and the Ca2+ centers occupy a cage of 12 oxygen centers. Many useful materials adopt related structures, e.g. barium titanate or variations of the structure, e.g. yttrium barium copper oxide.

Applications

Calcium titanate has relatively little value except as one of the ores of titanium, together with several others. It is reduced to give titanium metal or ferrotitanium alloys.

References

References

1. (1978). "Thermodynamic properties of minerals and related substances at 298.15 K and 1 bar pressure and at higher temperature". Geol. Surv. Bull..
2. (September 2007). "Sol–Gel Chemistry and Materials". Accounts of Chemical Research.
3. (1 October 1992). "Electron difference density and structural parameters in CaTiO3". Acta Crystallographica Section B.
4. (2000). "Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry".