Thinking titanium for Australia

Titanium Workshop & Forum Coordinator, Dr Grant Wellwood (left) with Stan Seagle from the International Titanium Association.

The Light Metals Flagship hosted a three-day event in April at CSIRO Minerals in Clayton that attracted people from industry, government and research. The main aim was to foster interest in the concept of an Australian titanium industry.

The three days comprised two 'Fundamentals of Titanium' educational workshops held for CSIRO staff and industry representatives, and a one-day Titanium Industry Forum.

The workshop leader was Stan Seagle, former Vice-President Technology, RMI Titanium and now consultant to the US-based International Titanium Association (ITA), which partnered with the Flagship to present.

Opening up the market

During the workshops, Mr Seagle said that demand for the metal was likely to continue to strengthen over coming years.

"Reducing the cost of titanium is expected to have a major impact on markets. A reduction of just A$3 in the cost of titanium could double the market for non-aerospace applications such as automotive engine valve trains."

Twenty-five invited attendees from industry and government attended the two workshops, which were also attended by more than 50 CSIRO staff.

The one-day industry forum brought together key people from resources and metals companies, manufacturers, engineering and design consultants, researchers and Commonwealth and State government.

Special guest speaker was Dr Sami El-Soudani – Associate Technical Fellow with The Boeing Company's Phantom Works advanced R&D division in California – who gave a detailed insight into titanium applications and its future within the aerospace industry.

Halving the cost

"The positive feedback from participants was a vindication of the research effort we are putting into titanium," commented Light Metals Flagship Director, Dr Raj Rajakumar.

Event coordinator Dr Grant Wellwood, a titanium project leader with the Light Metals Flagship, said participants agreed that the main barrier to wider use of the metal was its high metal production/manufacturing costs.

"Cutting the cost by 50% or more is the aim of the Flagship's research into making titanium and titanium alloy powders direct," said Dr Wellwood.

"The international visitors in particular were impressed by the extent of the Flagship's research, the progress being made, and the fact that our multidisciplinary teams interact closely and encompass the entire titanium value chain, from ore to manufactured product."
 

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The Light Metals Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.

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