The Hindu Business Line : KMML to make titanium metal for aerospace use

THE State-owned grey-gold company, Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML), as part of its diversification and expansion programme, is to enter into production of titanium sponge/metal used in aerospace and military applications, thus taking the country into a group of a few countries manufacturing this product.

"Technology evaluation is in the final stages and transfer of technology would be finalised this year with the proposed strategic partner," according to official sources who do not want to name the partner. But they said it would be one of the major producers of titanium sponge in the world.

KMML, which is the only company in the country to manufacture titanium pigment rutile grade, will also become the first to produce titanium sponge, the sources told Business Line. However, it will be used in civilian applications, they said.

Because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, titanium and its alloys are widely used in both aerospace and non-aerospace applications.

Aerospace applications include use in gas turbine engines, for both military and commercial aircraft (where titanium leads to reduced engine weight while maintaining strength), airframes, missiles and space vehicles. In most aircraft engines, titanium-based alloy parts account for 20-30 per cent of engine weight, they said.

Non-aerospace applications include use in specialty chemical, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine, medical, and consumer goods industries. The aerospace industry is the largest market for titanium, with commercial and military aerospace applications consuming about 65 per cent of titanium mill product shipments, the sources said.

Titanium sponge is a porous, brittle form of titanium, a highly ductile metal. It has low thermal and electrical conductivity and is one of the most corrosion-resistant structural metals. Sponge is an intermediate product used to produce titanium ingot, which in turn is used to make slab, billet, bar, plate, sheet, and other titanium mill products.

Meanwhile, the company, which has expanded its capacity to 40,000 tonnes this year, is also in the process of acquiring the Becher process technology to eliminate emission of iron oxide and using it for manufacturing by-products. Negotiations are in the final stages with an Australian company, the sources said.

Using modified in-house technology, the unit's capacity will be raised to 60,000 tonnes by late next year, they said.

KMML improved its exports during the first half of the current fiscal from 4,588 tonnes to 5,712 tonnes. Its total sales stood at 15,283 tonnes against 15,240 tonnes in the first half of last fiscal. Titanium dioxide pigment production increased to 16,391 tonnes from 14,905 tonnes in Apr - Sep, the sources said.

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