Nanosized titanium carbide particles were synthesized by the reaction of liquid magnesium and vaporized TiCl4 + CxCl4 (x = 1, 2) solution. Fine titanium carbide particles with about 50 nm were successfully produced by combining of Ti and C atoms released by chloride reduction of magnesium, and vacuum was then used to remove the residual phases of MgCl2 and excess Mg. With respect to the reaction kinetic, the activation energy for the reactions of TiCl4 + C2O4 and Mg was found to 69 kJ mol(-1), which was about half value against the use of TiCl4 + CCl4, and such higher reactivity of the former contributed to increase the stoichiometry until the level of TiC0.96 and decrease the free carbon content below 0.3 wt.%. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.