Influence of TiO<sub>2</sub>% in Iron Sand on Cast Iron Production by Tatara Iron Making

The aim of this project was to learn roles titanium oxide (TiO2), an impurity contained in iron sand, the products resulting from traditional making processes, tatara operations. For purpose, sand collected using two different mineral processing methods four locations Chugoku area Japan, and these samples were used run small-scale experiments. Iron with gravity separation method 8 12% TiO2, while modern magnetic less than 5% TiO2. When gravity-separated a under strong reducing conditions, zuku (cast iron) flowed out tatara. In contrast, magnetically failed produce zuku, but did raw steel at bottom furnace. Further, even isolated could when it supplemented ilmenite, titanium-iron containing mineral. results show that TiO2 plays key role producing cast operations, fact Akome is known as contains higher levels Masa which (tamahagane) much hence not suitable iron. These observations agree historical descriptions stating pre-modern operators knew add specific locality (which rich TiO2) Masa-type