Why must titanium plates be processed in a calcination furnace? Unlock Anatase Phase and Purity

Post-anodic heat treatment is the defining step for material performance. While anodic oxidation creates the initial titanium dioxide layer, a calcination furnace is required to finalize the material's properties. This high-temperature process purifies the surface of chemical residues and fundamentally alters the crystal structure to unlock the plate's functional potential.

Calcination at 500°C transforms the titanium plate from a simple oxidized metal into a functional component. It achieves this by evaporating residual electrolytes and driving a critical phase change from amorphous titanium dioxide to the highly active anatase crystalline phase.

Transforming Material Structure

Moving from Amorphous to Crystalline

Immediately following the anodic oxidation stage, the titanium dioxide ($\text{TiO}_2$) on the surface is amorphous.

In this state, the atomic structure lacks defined order. Calcination provides the thermal energy required to rearrange these atoms into a precise lattice structure.

Targeting the Anatase Phase

The primary goal of this heat treatment is to achieve the anatase crystal phase.

This specific crystalline form is essential because it possesses superior photocatalytic activity. Without this phase transformation, the titanium plate cannot effectively perform light-induced chemical reactions.

Enhancing Electronic Stability

Beyond reactivity, the structural order introduced by calcination improves the material's durability.

The transformation to the anatase phase results in significantly improved electronic stability. This ensures the material behaves consistently under electrical stress compared to the disordered amorphous state.

Purification and Surface Cleaning

Removing Chemical Contaminants

The anodic oxidation process involves liquid electrolytes that often linger on the material.

Specifically, components such as residual glycerol and moisture can remain trapped within the porous oxide layer. If left untreated, these impurities can interfere with the plate's performance.

The Mechanism of Evaporation

The calcination furnace utilizes a controlled environment to purge these contaminants.

Subjecting the plates to 500°C for 1.5 hours ensures that volatile residues are completely evaporated. This leaves behind a chemically pure surface that is ready for demanding applications.

Understanding the Trade-offs

Process Sensitivity

The parameters of this step are not arbitrary; they must be precise.

The specific target of 500°C is chosen to maximize the anatase formation. Deviating significantly from this temperature could fail to achieve the desired phase or potentially degrade the surface structure.

Throughput Implications

Adding a calcination step increases manufacturing complexity.

It requires a dedicated 1.5-hour cycle, which introduces a bottleneck compared to the relatively fast oxidation process. However, this time investment is unavoidable for high-performance applications.

Making the Right Choice for Your Goal

To ensure your titanium plates meet their performance requirements, consider the following processing priorities:

• If your primary focus is Maximum Reactivity: Strictly maintain the temperature at 500°C to ensure the highest possible percentage of anatase crystal phase formation.
• If your primary focus is Chemical Purity: Do not shorten the 1.5-hour duration, as this time is critical to fully evaporate residual glycerol and moisture from the pore structure.

By treating the calcination furnace as a tool for structural engineering rather than just a drying oven, you guarantee a stable, high-performance final product.

Summary Table:

Process Feature	Before Calcination (Post-Oxidation)	After Calcination (500°C for 1.5h)
Crystal Structure	Amorphous (Disordered)	Anatase Crystalline (Ordered)
Photocatalytic Activity	Low / Inactive	High / Functional
Surface Purity	Contains Residual Glycerol & Electrolytes	Chemically Pure & Dry
Electronic Stability	Low / Unpredictable	High / Stable
Physical State	Porous & Contaminated	Refined & Stable Structure

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References

1. Dwiprayogo Wıbowo, Akrajas Ali Umar. Morphological Analysis of Ag Doped on TiO2/Ti Prepared via Anodizing and Thermal Oxidation Methods. DOI: 10.33263/briac122.14211427

This article is also based on technical information from Kintek Solution Knowledge Base .