A titanium halide and, optionally, other precursor halides compound are
reduced to a predetermined titanium product, suitably at or near ambient
conditions. Titanium tetrachloride, for example, is added to an anhydrous
liquid reaction medium containing one or more alkali metals or alkaline
earth metals as reductants. The metal reductants are dispersed as very
small globules in the liquid by cavitation of the liquid reaction medium,
such as by application of high intensity ultrasonic vibrations or
high-shear mixing to the reaction vessel. Continued cavitation of the
liquid medium affects relatively low temperature reduction of the
precursor halide(s) to produce a titanium-containing product such as
titanium metal, a titanium alloy or compound, or a titanium
matrix-ceramic composite material, or the like.