Titanium thin sheet
CSIRO is developing a process for producing low-cost titanium sheet and strip from titanium powder with the potential to open dramatically the market for a wide range of applications of this versatile metal.
The challenge
To grow the titanium processing and fabricating industry in Australia by developing technologies that will enable the efficient use of the titanium metal and as a result expand the markets for a wide range of new applications for titanium strip and sheet.
Our response
The advent of new generation technologies to produce low-cost titanium powders has provided an opportunity for developing new downstream processes to manufacture semi-finished titanium products. Consequently, CSIRO has developed a process for fabricating thin gauge (< 1 mm) titanium strip and sheet from a powder feedstock by using a combination of powder rolling and hot rolling. This technology enables continuous processing of commercially pure and alloy titanium at lower production costs, with fewer steps and high yield. Titanium alloys can be produced from pre-alloyed titanium powders and from blended elemental powders, providing the ideal platform for making sheet with targeted compositions and properties. There is also the potential to engineer porous materials and produce flat semi-finished products from other nonferrous and ferrous materials, including metal matrix composites.