Titanium Today August 2024 Edition

Issue 11; 2024 All Markets

In this issue: TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 Executive Summary Observations on Near-Term Titanium Scrap Trends Titanium Connection to DB Cooper

COIL SHEET STRIP P L AT E BAR NEAR NET SHAPES NICKEL TITANIUM STAINLESS STEEL COBALT PRODEC® ALLOY STEEL CCM ALUMINUM DUPLEX

YOUR SPECIALTY METALS SOLUTIONS CENTER AS910 0D — ISO 90 01:2015 — ISO 13485 DFARS COMPLIANT

UNITED PERFORMANCE METALS HEADQUARTERS — 3475 SYMMES RD, HAMILTON, OH 45015 OAKLAND, CA | LOS ANGELES, CA | HARTFORD, CT | CHICAGO, IL | GREENVILLE, SC INTERNATIONAL — BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND | BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

8 8 8 . 2 8 2 . 3 2 9 2 | w w w. u p m e t . c o m | s a l e s @ u p m e t . c o m

All Markets EDITION

CONTENTS Meet the ITA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Editorial Published by:

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 Draws Companies, Speakers To Discuss Manufacturing Technology, Business Trends, By Michael Gabriele . . . . . . 8

International Titanium Association www.titanium.org 1-303-404-2221 Telephone ita@titanium.org Email

Industry Executives Share Observations On Near-Term Titanium Scrap Trends, By Michael Gabriele . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Editor & Executive Director: Jennifer Simpson

Editorial:

The Titanium Connection to DB Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Product Quality Improvement Through the Application of Vacuum Arc Remelting Transverse of Magnetic Fields, By Paul E. King, Ph.D. . . . . . . . 34 From the Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ITA Member Roster 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

EDITORIAL OFFICES

International Titanium Association PO Box 1300 Eastlake, Colorado 80614-1300 USA DISTRIBUTION LIST

Join this free distribution by emailing us at ita@titanium.org

Industry Spotlight featuring Rex Heat Treat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

www.titanium.org TITANIUMTODAY

3

MEET THE ITA Board of Directors Executive Committee

Dr. Markus Holz

Professor, ITA Academic Member Education Committee Co-Chair Titanium Europe Conference Chair ITA President 2022-2024

Dr. Markus Holz is currently Professor at University of Applied Sciences Anhalt starting from 2020. There he is the program director of Logistics Management, teaching Operations Management and is currently involved in several national and international research programs in the field of sustainability and digitization in the industry.

Dr. Holz graduated in Aerospace Engineering in 1986 and earned his PhD in 1992. Following his 10 years of service in the German Airforce, Dr. Holz began his career with ThyssenKrupp in 1992, where he assumed several executive positions mainly in the stainless steel and special metals branch. In 1999, Dr. Holz became Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Titanium GmbH (formerly Deutsche Titan GmbH) and in 2002 he was appointed Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Titanium S.p.A. (formerly Titania S.p.A.).

Furthermore, he was responsible for Tubificio di Terni, Italien, from 2004 through 2007. From 2007 to 2009 he was CEO of the ThyssenKrupp Titanium Group (Germany and Italy). In January 2010 he joined the Managing Board of Hempel Special Metals, Oberhausen, Germany. After joining as MD the ALD Management Board in October 2011, Dr. Markus Holz was the President of AMG’s Engineering Systems Division and CEO of Vacuum Technologies GmbH from 2012 to 2019.

Martin Pike

President – Specialty Materials ATI ITA Vice President 2022-2024

Martin (Marty) Pike is President, ATI Specialty Materials, reporting to CEO and President Kim Fields. Marty brings more than two decades of ATI experience to this role, leading the Specialty Materials team to successful execution in meeting the demands of the aerospace ramp today and in the future.

In addition, Marty currently serves as Vice President, Global Commercial Strategies. Marty is the primary point of contact across ATI with strategic customers seeking to grow and expand their partnerships with ATI. Along with his responsbility for strategic customers, Marty leads our International Sales organization, the Defense Market Sector and Hypersonics teams. He also serves on the boards of Shanghai STAL Precision Stainless Steel Co., Ltd, a joint venture between ATI and Baowu Special Metallurgy and as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the International Titanium Association.

4

TITANIUMTODAY

Marty has 25+ years of experience in commercial strategy, marketing and sales in Aerospace, Engergy, and Defense end-markets. He previously held the role of Vice President – Commercial for ATI Specialty Materials business where he led the product marketing, business development, international sales and managing long-term agreements with customers.

In addition to the commercial role, Marty served as interim president of ATI’s Specialty Materials business unit in 2021, before being named to the Vice President, Global Commercial Strategies role in 2023.

Prior to joining ATI, Marty worked in footwear manufacturing and for an internet startup where he held various commercial positions including Regional Vice President of Sales. Marty has a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Sam Stiller

Vice President – Commercial Howmet Structure Systems ITA Secretary/Treasurer 2022-2024

Sam Stiller is Vice President, Commercial for Howmet Aerospace. All Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service, globally, is led by Sam’s commercial team.

Frank L. Perryman

President and Chief Executive Officer Perryman Company ITA Past President 2022-2024

Mr. Perryman graduated from Millikin University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. In 1988 he co-founded Perryman Company with his father and brother. Since December of 2008 he has held the position of President and CEO of Perryman Company.

Perryman Company is a fully integrated supplier of specialty titanium products. From melting through finishing, founded in 1988, Perryman Company is headquartered in Houston, Pennsylvania, with office locations in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, London, Zurich, Tokyo and Xi’an. Perryman is an integrated titanium producer from melting of ingot to finished products. The company’s product portfolio includes ingot, bar, coil, fine wire, net shapes, and hot rolled products. The Forge and Fabrication group offers medical device contract manufacturing in a range of materials including plastics and titanium. A titanium global leader, Perryman supplies and services customers in the aerospace, medical, consumer, industrial, recreation, additive/3D printing and infrastructure markets worldwide.

ITA Directors

Phil MacVane

John J. Scherzer

Michael Marucci

Edward Sobota Jr.

Vice President, the Americas PCC Metals Group Global Sales

Chief Technology Officer Kymera International

Vice President – Medical Markets Carpenter Technology Corporation

VP, New Product Development STS Metals

Jennifer Simpson

Executive Director Ex-Officio Member of the Board International Titanium Association

ITA Committee Chairs

Safety Education

Robert G. Lee

Holly Both

President Accushape Inc.

Vice President of Marketing Plymouth Tube / Plymouth Engineered Shapes

Industrial Applications

Medical Technology

Christopher Wilson

Eric Baum

Director of Research and Development NobelClad

Ti Today Contributor

Michael C. Gabriele

6

Women in Titanium

TITANIUMTODAY

Senior Business Development Manger Laboratory Testing Inc.

Master Alloys & Titanium Powders for Critical Applications

(+1) 610-693-5822 rai.sales@kymerainternational.com www.kymerainternational.com

E X E C U T I V E

S U M M A R Y

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 Draws Companies, Speakers To Discuss Manufacturing Technology, Business Trends

By Michael C. Gabriele

T

he International Titanium Association (ITA), Denver, organized and hosted the TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 conference and expo at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, May 7-9 in Dublin, Ireland. The show had over 40 exhibitors and featured speakers who focused on economic trends and manufacturing technology innovations for the global titanium industry. Nearly 400 attendees came to the event from 31 countries.

Several presentations weighed in on titanium applications in the medical field, while others focused on metal-recovery techniques, powder metal production and additive manufacturing (AM) trends. In addition, Takeshi Nakashima, the deputy general manager of the titanium division of Toho Titanium Co. Ltd., provided in-depth analysis on the global titanium sponge market.

Aerospace Outlook Jeff Carpenter, Boeing’s senior director for contracts, sourcing and category management, and the special guest speaker for the conference, offered an upbeat assessment of global aerospace industry trends, saying that steady long-term forecast for the

8

TITANIUMTODAY

industry is driven by solid economic fundamentals. “Industry recovery (from the Covid-19 downturn) is progressing broadly as anticipated.”

Of particular importance to the titanium industry, Carpenter forecasted that airlines will need 42,600 new airplanes during the next 20 years, with single-aisle jets

trillion in 2022. Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) would grow to 20 trillion by 2024 from 6 trillion in 2022. Cargo traffic, measured in revenue ton kilometers (RTK) will reach 630 billion by 2042, up from 260 billion in 2022.

Boeing, to be sure, has faced its share of challenges during the last

accounting for 32,420 units and widebody jets 7,440 units.

Carpenter provided a similar outlook during his presentation at the TITANIUM USA 2023 conference held in Denver. He said the world economy’s gross domestic product (GDP) would reach $155 trillion by the year 2042, compared with $92

12 months regarding issues with its 737 fleet. The New York Times, in its March 28 edition, wrote that recent reports “paint a worrying picture about a company long considered to be at the pinnacle of American engineering.” As a result, two top executives announced they were stepping down from their positions.

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) Last October at the titanium conference in Denver, Carpenter thanked all the players in the titanium supply chain that do work with Boeing. “In 2022 we (Boeing) made some tough choices on where to get supply,” presumably a reference to the disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Boeing suspended purchasing of titanium from Russia in 2022. “It caused

longer vertically integrated back to (titanium) sponge, nor the cost-based” sponge price stability that came with it.” He displayed a chart that estimated 2023 titanium sponge global capacity at 825 million pounds, according to the January 2024 U.S. Geological Survey of Mineral Commodity Summaries, which excludes Russian supply due to assumed, continued sanctions.

chief executive officer and director of Airbus SE, who said “the geopolitical tensions and supply chain challenges are upon us (a presumed reference to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia). In this context, the supply chain remains the pacing factor for the ramp up of the aerospace industry.”

Sam Stiller, vice president, commercial for Howmet Engineered Structures (a division of Howmet Aerospace Inc.) addressed “Titanium Demand Trends in Defense Aerostructures.” Stiller said that global defense market trends “play to the strength of titanium aerostructures and drive innovations.” He cited defense market trends such as air superiority, off-the-shelf technologies, speed to market and hypersonics.

Titanium’s strengths include resistance to high operating temperatures, compatibility with composite structures, environmental resistance and reduced weight and near-net shapes. He listed innovations of

everyone a lot of work—melters, forgers, process houses. A lot of forgers are under strain.”

Robert S. Wetherbee, ATI board chair and CEO, focused on “Commercial Aero-Engine Trends and Demands” in his presentation.

He began by pointing out that there would be a 7.7 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for aero engine titanium demand through the year 2028.

Supply chain stress points include stability and availability, cost pressures and geopolitical risks. “Customers are committing to eliminating single points of failure in their supply chains,” Wetherbee said, adding that there’s a tight supply for premiumquality titanium bar and billet.

“Continued inflation creates pressure.

The U.S. titanium industry is no

Wetherbee stated that the “titanium industry needs to be proactive to avoid being the ‘rate limiter.’” To underline points in his presentation, he quoted an April 2024 statement by Guillaume Faury, the

monolithic forgings, proprietary hightemperatures, titanium fine-grain sheet production, titanium extrusion in hot-stretch forming, and digital manufacturing and automation.

TITANIUMTODAY

9

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued)

Sponge and Scrap Takeshi Nakashima, the deputy general manager of the titanium division of Toho Titanium Co. Ltd., Japan, a producer of titanium sponge, provided a global titanium sponge outlook. Nakashima said that sponge demand for the aerospace market continues to grow steadily while demand for Industrial market grows slower than before. “In February 2024, the airline industry achieved full recovery in total passenger traffic, surpassing the 2019 level by 5.7 percent. In 2023, Airbus achieved a high A320 build rate while Boeing’s 737 build rate remains constrained.

However, both OEMs are confident about higher build rates in the future.

Both Boeing and Airbus still have very aggressive building plans. The 2026 delivery results should exceed the previous historical record set in 2018.”

As for the titanium sponge market situation in 2023 and 2024, Nakashima indicated that Japanese suppliers run their factories at more than 90 percent of capacity.

“UKTMP (Kazakhstan) has hardly ramped up their sponge production due to a delay in importing equipment from Russia. VSMPOAVISMA seems to produce sponge at full capacity for Airbus and Russian 10

TITANIUMTODAY

military demand. While there has not been an announcement of sponge capacity expansion from any aerospace-grade sponge supplier,

it is believed that Japanese sponge suppliers are studying the possibility of expansion.”

Nakashima, who also addressed the 2023 TITANIUM USA conference, pointed out that Airbus is still purchasing titanium products from Russia, which balances current sponge demand and supply in aerospace market. “If Airbus tried to reduce or suspend titanium products procurement from Russia, the sponge shortage would be serious. Even if Airbus continues procurement from Russia, there will be a sponge shortage. Only if aerospace-grade sponge production capacity expands, will it be avoided.

Chinese surplus sponge supply will have only a limited influence on the

Leading Titanium Manufacturer

—TC Aerospace

Premium Quality, Stability and Reliability.

One-Stop titanium alloy production and service.

ABOUT US A dozen years of titanium alloy production and research experience, with more than 100 patents and achievements to its credit, mastering a number of core technologies; Accredited with Nadcap non-destructive testing certificate and AS9100D, ISO14001, ISO 45001 and other certifications;

CORE PRODUCTS 1

2

3

Titanium bar/billet Size range: Φ15-500mm Grade: Ti6Al4V, Ti-6242, Ti-6246, Ti-38644, Ti-15333, etc.

Titanium wire rod coil Size range: Φ1.0-20.0mm Grade: Ti6Al4V, Ti6Al4V ELI, Ti-38644, Ti-6242, Ti-6246, Ti-15333, Ti-422, etc.

Titanium forging Size range: customized, disc, bar, ring, etc.

L(max):14m, W(max):4m, H(max):4m.

Grade: Ti6Al4V, Ti6246, Ti6242, Ti662, Ti38644, Ti15333, Ti1023, Ti422, etc.

For more information, please visit www.tcae.com/en/

Shaanxi TianCheng Aerospace Co., Ltd. +86-29-33336000 tc@tcae.com No 3, Gaoke 3rd Rd, Qindu District, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China.

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) aerospace industry.”

Quality concerns and geopolitical risks still exist for the global sponge market, according to Nakashima.

“Considering the huge demand and supply gap, the Chinese sponge price decline is expected to continue. It looks as if many Chinese sponge suppliers are trying to assure their running rate at the cost of their profitability. It is uncertain if Chinese sponge suppliers will start reducing their production to improve their sponge price.”

Fundamentals leaning towards sponge production capacity expansion are improving for aerospace-grade sponge suppliers, Nakashima observed. “The U.S. import sponge price continues to increase. The Japanese government is trying to improve aerospace industry supply chain resilience, including Titanium sponge, which may provide financial support policies for Japanese sponge suppliers. However, current sponge suppliers still hesitate to expand capacity. Construction of a new sponge factory will cost hundreds of millions of dollars in (capital expenditures). Sponge suppliers have suffered from low profitability due to unstable demand and unfavorable prices to them despite their cost reduction. Only capacity expansion of aerospacegrade sponge suppliers can solve the looming sponge shortage in aerospace industry.

Nakashima cautioned that there will be a supply and demand gap in the future due to the growing requirements of the industry. “The aerospace supply chain including OEMs should consider how to convince sponge suppliers to approve new investments. Sponge suppliers want assurances of their profitability before deciding on capacity expansions. The aerospace supply chain would secure sponge supply if 12

TITANIUMTODAY

they could assure sponge suppliers

Security; Critical to Manufacturing

Risks facing rutile supply

Category

    

Considerations

Quality

Consistency, TiO2 content, impurities, process yields, track record, qualification

Economics

Capital and operating costs, brown field versus green field, infrastructure, ore grade, mine‐life, investment

ESG

Company credentials, governance, licence to operate, community, reputation (local and global)

Geopolitical

Regional stability, permitting and fiscal arrangements, conflict zones

Supply Chain

Inputs, staffing, export routes, final delivery (port)

Climate

Seasonality, force majeure type events

Declining reserves at existing operations Lack of investment in new projects Future rutile demand is production constrained Rutile’s green credentials support demand growth Over 20% of future supply are currently in project stage

Rutile Supply

Source: TZ Mineral International and Sierra Rutile estimates, plus corporate reports.

Assumes production from existing operations and approved projects.

of stable sponge demand as well as a reasonable sponge price.”

Derek Folmer, general manager, marketing for Sierra Rutile, shared his thoughts on “Rutile Supply

Titanium Sponge.” Sierra Rutile is the world’s largest producer of natural rutile, an Australian mining company with assets in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Folmer said TiO2

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) pigment drives feedstock demand, with the vast majority going to pigment compared with a small segment for titanium metal.

He identified the titanium feedstock value chain and listed the risks facing rutile supply.

“The world needs rutile and risks must be weighed and considered by source. Sierra Rutile committed to responsibly supplying the world’s rutile requirements with approval pending on $300 million Sembehun

Area 5 project (a town in the southern province of Sierra Leone in Africa),” Folmer said.

Aamir Abid, Ph.D., an executive with Retech (a Seco/Warwick company) discussed the “Recycling of Titanium Scrap to Produce High-Quality Ingot and Additive Manufacturing Powder,” and touted the plasma gas atomizer (PGA) process. Abid said PGA “provides an economically viable method to produce reactive and refractory alloy

powders. PGA is inherently scalable due to use of hearth melting via DC plasma and ability to continuously feed, melt and atomize powder.

Significant reduction in powder cost-PGA allows for improved yield, use of lower cost raw materials and recycling of revert.” Successfully produced complex refractory (titanium and nickel) alloys on PGA yields “best in class” powder performance, according to Abid.

Master Alloys Michael Wilkes, global product manager for Kymera International, presented an overview on the business dynamics of titanium master alloys. Common master alloy metals include vanadium, the most common master alloy for titanium, along with aluminum, used in the production of the workhorse aerospace alloy Ti6A4V; and molybdenum and niobium. He pointed out that titanium scrap plays a major role in master alloys.

Wilkes defined master alloys for titanium melting as a combination of two or more metals in a metallurgically alloyed form. “Shortterm demand dynamics for master alloying elements will be mainly influenced by the availability of titanium scrap used during the melting practice, and inventory levels of scrap,” Wilkes said. “Longerterm trends suggest continued unpredictability for key master alloy elements. Continued supply surges and dips in the global steel industry, led by China, will drive (business) dynamics. New technologies for green energy storage will compete for the same materials used by the titanium industry. Continuous risk management is recommended.”

He provided charts that illustrated forecasts for vanadium, molybdenum and niobium. The iron and steel industries accounted for 94 TITANIUMTODAY

13

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued)

percent of total vanadium demand in 2021 and remains a major source of demand, according to Wilkes. The steel market expected to grow at a CAGR of about 3.1 percent until 2030. “Vanadium demand is being revolutionized before our eyes.” For molybdenum, the majority of growth during the next 10 years is expected to occur in the chemical and petrochemical industry, including the hydrogen sector and power generation driven by the demand for sustainable construction and energy, specifically wind and geothermal. “The niobium market is estimated to be at 97,208 metric tons, while growth over the next five years is projecting over 10 percent CAGR, reaching nearly 190,000 metric tons.”

Niobium production in 2022 registered 79,000 metric tons.

Medical Markets There were several presentations regarding the use of titanium in medical markets, with a focus on AM technology. Nicolas Bouduban of the Swiss m4m Center AG, said his group enables innovations and support in medical and dental applications via AM and related engineering expertise. He evaluated the use of Ti6A4V as a material choice for long-term medical implants.

Matthias Scharvogel, the founder and CEO of Element 22 Gmbh, makes use of metal injection molding (MIM), fused filament fabrication, and cold metal fusion as complements to additive manufacturing.

The presentation by Chris Norris of APS Materials Inc. discussed “Titanium Technology in Medical Applications; Thermal Plasma Spraying Biomedical Implants,” and listed the capabilities of plasma spray equipment used by his company.

Ali Madani, the managing partner for Avicenne Medical presented an “Outlook for the Orthopedic Market.” Madani estimated that the worldwide market 14

TITANIUMTODAY

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued)

for orthopedic implants (knee, spine, trauma and hips) in 2023 at $51 billion.

Madani then offered a forecast for orthopedic market drivers and market limiters through the year 2030. For orthopedics market drivers, extremities and shoulder applications, currently estimated at around $5.9 billion, “will almost double in 2030 to $10 billion.” There will be “historical constant growth” for knee and trauma application, and high volume growth in emerging

16

TITANIUMTODAY

markets.

By contrast, market limiters include “continuous regulatory cost increases, while price pressure on the end markets will remain moderate.” He observed that the end-user orthopedics market “has long market visibility and very high barriers to entry. The profitability of established companies is very high.

Challengers can gain market share through new product launches. This market is suffering from sales prices that are almost frozen.”

The key success factors for an orthopedic company, according to Madani, include having a proven products with a long trackrecord; continuously introduce incremental innovations in implants and instruments; regulatory and certification expertise; control over distribution networks; and

maintaining the efficiency and continuity of their supply chains.

Innovations in Manufacturing Technologies Wei Chen and Carl Boehlert, of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University, provided information on the “Characterization of the Microstructure, Tensile, Fatigue, and Creep Behavior of Powder Metallurgy Processed Rolled and Extruded Ti-6Al-4V-1B (wt. percent) Alloys.” They identified their objectives as being able to evaluate processing effects on the elevated-temperature fatigue and creep behavior of Ti-64-1B alloy Ti6Al-4V (wt. percent), Ti-64, and to evaluate the effect of B content on the elevated-temperature fatigue and creep behavior of powder metallurgy (PM) rolled plate and PM extrusions.

They evaluated tensile behavior, fatigue behavior, fracture analysis, the creep behavior of Ti-64-xB alloys and creep fatigue interaction.

They concluded that “processing significantly influences the fatigue behavior of Ti-64-xB alloys. Powder metal (PM) processing induces an equiaxed grain size, (which) results in enhanced fatigue lives compared to cast metallurgy. The finest equiaxed microstructure (PM extruded) resulted in the

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) greatest fatigue lives. Texture, induced through the extrusions, enhanced the tensile and fatigue strengths through aligning both the a-phase and the Ti-B phase into ‘hard’ orientations. The extruded alloys exhibited tensile anisotropy where the extrusion directions were stronger than the transverse directions. However, the anisotropic

have placed orders for more than 1,000 aircraft within the last two years. He said the Asian giant will develop and operationalize 220 airports within the next five years, making it the third largest global civil aviation market. India, he said, is “quickly becoming the goto source for aero assemblies and subassemblies, with more than $2

billion of annual exports to major air framers.”

PTC/Aerolloy was established in 1963 as India’s first investment casting foundry, operating plasma arc melting technologies, and now operating two advanced manufacturing campuses in India.

Collins reviewed the technologies and timelines of Aerolloy’s electron beam cold hearth refining; plasma arc cold hearth refining; the cold hearth refining process; vacuum arc remelting; and open die forging and hot rolling. Many of these manufacturing technologies are slated to come online this year and in 2025. He also noted that PTC Industries and Aerolloy are committed to “comply with carbon footprint reduction and greenhouse gas (GHG) protocols in accordance with international standards, meeting the Paris Agreement targets.”

TITANIUM TODAY, the quarterly online magazine published by the ITA, provided a news analysis feature in the third quarter of 2023 on how the Republic of India is

behavior was not a ‘show stopper’ as the transverse orientations for the B-containing alloys remained quite strong.”

“Overall, Ti-B alloys have shown promise for fatigue-driven and creep-driven applications of Ti-64 and PM processed Ti-64-xB have the potential to replace Ti-64 for both RT and elevated-temperature structural applications.”

Jim Collins, chief technology officer, PTC Industries and Aerolloy Technologies, evaluated “Green Titanium – Enhancing the Aerospace Titanium Market from India.” He began by identifying aerospace business opportunities in India, saying that Indian airlines TITANIUMTODAY

17

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) positioning itself to become a major force in the global aerospace and titanium industries. As noted by Collins, the giant Asian subcontinent is building an industrial infrastructure to compete in the aerospace and titanium sectors.

“With the leverage made from the additional in-house generated renewable energy at 50 percent of the plants operating power and additional high efficiency process equipment/technologies, a further three tons of CO2 saving per kg of Titanium produced at via Aerolloy’s Green Titanium process line.

Finally, with the total supply cycle advanced Campus, a significant carbon footprint reduction is to be achieved via the reduction in process logistics.”

Kurt Faller, the founder and chairman of MetCon, talked about “Free, No-Cost Saleable Metal Hiding in Traditional Titanium Conversion.” He said MetCon Introduced Electrochemistry to Titanium Processing, with more than 25 million pounds processed.

Faller defined “free” as finding available metal typically removed due to conditioning yield losses.

“Yield, yield, yield: the mantra of management.”

He said that free metal can be found as “every hot working step generates certain yield losses: end crops (removing bulged ends), and side trims (removing as-rolled ragged edge). “Hidden” yield losses generally are less understood: alpha case layer removal and conditioning of cooling cracks (cracks covered in alpha case). “Most producers use post-conditioning pickle to reveal hidden defects.”

Faller explained that the MetCon alternative involves “green chemistry:” 96 percent H2O plus citric acid plus ABF; less acidic 18

TITANIUMTODAY

Titanium

ACNIS GROUP SETS UP A NEW SUBSIDIARY IN CHICAGO

Stainless steel Polymers

Established in France (Lyon), the stockist Acnis Group is one of the world leaders in the distribution of metal alloys especially in TITANIUM, in all forms : sheets, bars, tubes and powder for 3D printing.

ISO 13485 certified since 15 years, the family business has specialized in the medical field since its creation in 1991, to meet the demand of orthopedic manufacturers and dental implants, as well as surgical instruments.

ACNIS Group acts as a buffer between producers and users, thanks to its 600 to 700 tons rotating stock and 1,300 references of different origins. Our unique cut-to-size service center (15 machines: waterjet, high-definition waterjet, plate sawing, bar sawing, shearing, machining, chamfering) allows us to reduce your costs by optimizing scrap rates.

As a result, the company is able to deliver very quickly its customers, in barely a week, no matter the ordered quantity. Major implant manufacturers among the main American and European OEMs themselves call on ACNIS Group to source their metal alloys.

The last creation of ACNIS USA stock in 2023 in Chicago has changed the game. Acnis Group is now the only distributor that can stock and deliver any quantity in North America (ACNIS TITANIUM & ALLOYS USA-Chicago), South America (ACNIS DO BRAZIL-Sao Paulo), Europe (ACNIS FRANCE-Lyon), South Asia (ACNIS CHINAShanghai) for global worldwide contracts.

Acnis is your one-stop shop for all TITANIUM grades, stainless steel (316L, 420B, cobalt chrome, 17/4 PH, high nitrogen alloy, Custom 455, Custom 465…) and polymers.

Our dental subsidiary BCS, a European leading distributor of CAD CAM products for additive manufacturing, is registered with the FDA for titanium powder & discs, and cobalt chromium powder.

ACNIS TITANIUM & ALLOYS 1940 E Devon Elk Grove Village 60007 - IL - USA

qgoliot@acnis-titanium.com +1 (312) 826-6850

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) than soft drinks. MetCon electrochemical technology is a rectifier for controlled surface reactions: precision in process; no adiabatic heating; and 100 percent reproducible, with no hazardous waste disposal, no air permits and no scrubbers.

He summarized by saying that free material involves “condition all over” (CAO) and delivers the greatest value (replacing grinding). “MetCon Defect Reveal pickling reveals and eliminates cracks below conditioned layer.” MetCon CAO and MetCon Defect Reveal involve no crack propagation, little post-rolling conditioning, predictable and repeatable process control, and significantly simplifies environmental compliance.”

Dave Ochar, vice president, aerospace sales, Bodycote Metal Additive Manufacturing Services, reviewed the benefits of metal additive production technologies, while pointing out that all AM parts need post processing.

These processes include stress relief, hot isostatic pressing, annealing.

In particular, he focused on hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at Bodycote, which combines high temperatures 20

TITANIUMTODAY

(up to 2,000°C) with isostatically applied gas pressures (up to 45,000 psi).

“HIP is used to eliminate porosity in castings and consolidate powder metallurgy materials into fully dense components. Dissimilar materials can be bonded together to manufacture unique, cost-effective parts. Bodycote operates a global HIP network with over 50 HIP vessels of varying sizes in multiple locations.

We provide two major HIP routes for customers: HIP product fabrication, for the manufacture of components through powder metallurgy and diffusion bonding; and HIP services, providing porosity removal through HIP densification.”

Each week a typical Bodycote HIP plant will process many tons of materials such as titanium, aluminum, steel, cobalt, and nickel-based superalloy castings, removing porosity and uprating the performance of parts such as turbine blades and turbochargers, according to Ochar.

Beate Orberger, director of EuroTitan, outlined “Decarbonized Titanium Recovery from Aluminum and Titanium Production Residues.” EuroTitan is a consortium

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued)

of European counties (Germany, France, Greece, the Netherlands and others), with experience from previous and ongoing projects for metals extraction from industrial wastes. Orberger said EuroTitan contributes to solving three challenges: Europe’s dependency of titanium metal and its related supply chain; highly polluting titanium metal production via the Kroll process; and Europe’s high metallurgical residue volumes in industrial waste streams.

EuroTitan’s objectives involve unlocking titanium from European waste streams. “EuroTitan will produce Ti-metal nanopowders through efficient and low-carbon footprint extraction technologies

and in-line process optimization,” Orberger said, which results in over 90 percent of CO2 reduction compared to the Kroll process.

There will be full integration of H2

technologies and renewable energy sources, with onsite H2 production (electrolysis and electricity from wind power).

The estimated reduction of energy and water consumption: minimum 20 percent on-site, while minimizing production interruption. The remaining residues are converted into innovative (30 percent lower CO2 emissions compared to cement based) construction materials.

Orberge said water will be recycled, and excess heat energy will serve local households. Rest waste (slags) will be converted into construction materials.

EuroTitan’s vision is to diversify and secure the supply chain for the aeronautic sectors (master alloy and 3D printing) and decrease Europe’s dependency from Russia, according to Orberger.

L.P. Lefebvre of the National Research Council of Canada, and Olivier Bergeron, AP&C-Une Société de GE Additive, discussed “Near Net Shape Precursors for the Production of Titanium Plates, Sheets, Forging and Hipping.” The objective involves developing powder metal (PM) precursors for the production of net shape titanium products to take advantage of the availability of high quality rapidly solidified titanium powders, reducing cost by reducing

TITANIUMTODAY

21

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) material removal, versatility in abrasives and settings, effective heat management, minimized tool wear, surface finish precision and specialized tooling for titanium.

“Operator training is crucial for maintaining precision and safety in titanium grinding,” Kooman said.

“Adhering to industry standards and regulations ensures the integrity of the grinding process and guarantees the safety of both the operators and the final product.

Additionally, implementing safety guidelines and quality control measures helps to prevent accidents and ensure consistent quality in titanium precision grinding.”

Martin Jackson, a professor of advanced metals processing at the University of Sheffield, presented information on “Digital Microstructural Fingerprints of Closed-Loop Recycling of Titanium Alloys.” He showed a

the number of steps and waste during manufacturing, and developing new materials, such as high-tech composites.

Production capacity of high-quality titanium powders has increased with the development of AM, which only uses a fraction of the particle size distribution.

A significant fraction of high-quality fine and coarse powders are now available in significant quantities.

This directly impacts the cost and sustainability of AM processes and provides opportunities in processes that could not, until recently, afford procuring such powders.

Piet Kooman, grinding specialist, Time Savers LLC service centers, addressed “Unlocking Precision: WideBelt Grinders for Titanium Grinding in Aerospace; Grinding Titanium with Finesse and Efficiency.” Kooman underlined the importance of precision titanium grinding, saying it’s essential in aerospace, medical, and other high-performance industries. “Challenges like removing alpha case and passing the bending test can be effectively addressed with wide belt grinders, specialized tools designed for titanium grinding,” he stated.

He asked the audience to consider the benefits of wide-belt grinders, saying they offer effective solutions for precision grinding in titanium processing. “By adopting this technology, engineers and technicians in the aerospace industry can significantly improve efficiency and quality in their titanium applications.” Wide-belt grinders used as specialized tools provide consistent 22

TITANIUMTODAY

IATA Upgrades Its Global Aerospace Industry Outlook To $25.7 billion profit in 2024 (continued)

slide on the availability of titanium waste and said there’s a need to start to refer to waste or scrap as a valuable feedstock.

The use of high value alloyed titanium swarf as a feedstock is used for the FAST and FAST-forge process, with the generation of near-net shape components in high strength and good fatigue-life applications, he said.

“There’s an indication of production volume capability and cost level for automotive industry.”

Thomas Klein of the Austrian Institute of Technology reviewed the “Processing of Ti-6Al-4V by Cold Metal Transfer: Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties.” Klein acknowledged that Ti-6Al4V is the “workhorse alloy of the titanium industry and more industries are trying to implement the waDED (wire and arc-based directed energy deposition) process.

“Cold metal transfer (CMT) was shown to break up epitaxially grown β grains and reduce their size with increasing build height, Klein said. “Multiscale automated image analysis and compositional mapping of the microstructure revealed α-lath size variations as a function of build height and formation of fusion boundaries depleted in V and Fe. Hardness maps reveal local variations in hardness dependent on grain orientations; Acceptable strength values were reached while further improvement of ductility remained; Good fatigue strength obtained, whereby scatter was observed.”

“CMT is shown to be capable of producing Ti-6Al-4V alloy builds with very high deposition rates. The ability to remove 24

TITANIUMTODAY

IATA Upgrades Its Global Aerospace Industry Outlook To $25.7 billion profit in 2024 (continued) the mechanical anisotropy and achieving enhanced properties in Ti-6Al-4V alloy makes this process as one of the most suitable AM

processes for adaptation in aerospace and other industries.”

Dr. Alexander Klassen of ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH,

a subsidiary of AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V., presented information on “Advanced Vacuum Furnaces for Metal Powder Production and Additive Manufacturing—Bridging Raw Materials to Products.” Klassen provided an overview of ALD’s Electrode Induction Melting Inert Gas Atomization (EIGA) systems.

Benefits of the EIGA, according to Klassen, include ceramic-free powder production process, with no contamination of raw material with non-metallic elements, direct conversion of electrode into powder, a robust and simple process, and high productivity due to short cycle times. Materials processed by the EIGA system include titanium metal alloy powders, reactive and refractory metal powders, precious metal alloy powders, and materials with up to 3000 °C melting temperature, such as niobium, molybdenum and tantalum.

Klassen identified ALK EBUILD® 850 as “the world’s largest industrial electron beam powder bed fusion system, and gave examples of parts the system is able to produce.

In his summary remarks, Klassen said AM at ALD features a powder bed fusion electron beam (PBF-EB) build volume of 850 x 850 x 1000 mm³. The system has a beam power of 45 kW @ 150 kV acceleration voltage, with high productivity rates of up to 1000 cm³/h. Powder Recycling at ALD provides a “circular economy” solution for metal powders, with a wide range of powder particle sizes, fast AMbuild using up to 400 µm layers, electrode production under vacuum conditions, and closed capsules for easy storage.

TITANIUMTODAY

25

TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 – Executive Summary (continued) with a wide variety of customers and vendors in a single trip. At the same time, TITANIUM USA, much like TITANIUM EUROPE, offers opportunities to hear from leading industry executives and attend panel discussions on market topics that affect each industry segment.

The ITA is a membership-based international trade association dedicated to the titanium metal industry. Established in 1984, the ITA’s main mission is to connect the public interested in using titanium with specialists from across the globe who may offer sales and technical assistance. Working through extensive membership resources, the ITA seeks to expand the knowledge base for the metal, providing technical literature and sponsoring seminars and conferences. Current ITA membership is comprised of more than 120 organizations and over 1,500 individual members worldwide.

ITA will host TITANIUM USA 2024 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Austin, TX, Oct. 6-9. Visit www.

TitaniumUSA.org for registration information. Many managers from prime contractors as well as sub-tier suppliers are coming as they recognize the efficiency of attending a meeting such as TITANIUM. Because there are producers, distributors and fabricators from all parts of the world across several consuming market segments at the conference, it’s a very cost effective means for the delegates to meet

26

TITANIUMTODAY

Harness our leading-edge vacuum technology to help assure your flight-critical parts go the distance.

Aerospace Vacuum Heat Treating Services Annealing • Degassing • Creep Forming and Flattening • Stress Relieving • Brazing Solution Treat and Age (STA) • Homogenizing • Sintering • Hydriding/Dehydriding

Advantages • Bright, clean, scale-free surfaces with minimal distortion

• Furnace capacities up to 48 feet long and 150,000 lbs

• Full line of major aerospace approvals • Titanium and high nickel alloys

Solar Atmospheres heat treated the titanium manifold weldment used on the Orion Launch Abort System for the NASA Artemis I Program.

1-855-WE-HEAT-IT solaratm.com Eastern PA

•

Western PA

•

California

•

South Carolina

•

Michigan

Industry Executives Share Observations On Near-Term Titanium Scrap Trends

By Michael C. Gabriele

A

s the titanium industry navigates evolving business trends for the near term, some executives have focused on the availability of titanium scrap to support their assorted manufacturing operations. In addition to supply and demand concerns, the pendulum continues to swing regarding the balance between utilizing scrap and sponge, considering the advantages of each.

Several titanium scrap executives weighed in on these issues, providing insight and forecasts, and the industry continues to distance itself from the painful years of the downturn caused

by Covid-19.

Steve Chavez, the president of All-Met Recycling, Anaheim CA, observed that titanium scrap supply and demand will increase over the next five years mainly due to commercial aviation projected build rates. He shared his estimates, saying that supply this year will be 250,000 metric tons, while demand will reach 210,000 metric tons. The supply/ demand balance is expected to tighten in 2025, with supply at 250,000 metric tons and demand growing to 240,000 metric tons.

A potential shortfall is projected in 2026 with demand outpacing supply: 290,000 metric tons of demand versus 270,000 metric tons of supply. The situation will shift in the following two years. Demand will rise to 300,000 metric tons versus 320,000 metric tons of supply in 2027, with 310,000 metric tons of demand versus 330,000 metric tons of supply in 2028.

“We see the market in three

28

TITANIUMTODAY

‘Scrap and sponge compete as raw material sources for the melters. Whichever offers the greatest cost benefit, ultimately will have higher demand. While this is certainly not a one for one, it serves as a good general rule. Other factors are that master alloy prices impact the value of scrap as well (vanadium, molybdenum, etc.), and newer melt technologies actually need a certain amount of scrap to produce consistent chemistry in the heats.’

—Nick Corby ELG Utica Alloys

major categories: aerospace/medical; industrial; and ferrotitanium,” Chavez stated. “Supply and demand levels vary for each segment. We have seen additional availability of scrap from U.S. generators, thus a positive impact. We do not see a potential scrap shortfall until 2026. We see a direct correlation between scrap and sponge both in utilization and pricing. As sponge production meets, exceeds, or falls short of demand, scrap fills the gap. It also works the opposite way. There is a balance that fluctuates between sponge, scrap, and master alloys.”

All-Met Recycling is a family owned and operated recycling company, founded in 1957 by Chavez’s father, Manuel A. Chavez.

In 1977 the Chavez family took its small business and incorporated and opened its first recycling facility in Los Angeles. For the last 40 years AllMet has processed aluminum, ferrous and steel alloys for smelters and foundries throughout the world. In

2016 All-Met expanded its processing capabilities to include titanium alloys and has supplier of titanium feedstock to many U.S. melters.

Much like Chavez, Matt Schmink, the president of EJ Metals LLC, Detroit, sees the demand for titanium scrap increasing during the next five years. “Some of this is due to increased Matt Schmink utilization President, EJ Metals, LLC of scrap by some melters who are installing EB (electron beam) melt capacity to give them greater flexibility in how they melt and allowing them to take advantage of market conditions when scrap is cheaper than sponge and alloy.”

However, Schmink also sees the ongoing war in Ukraine

Industry Executives Share Observations On Near-Term Titanium Scrap Trends (continued)

Scrap operations, EJ Metals

“turbocharging” titanium scrap demand. “The reason for this is that the U.S. melters (which have long been larger users of scrap than any other part of the world) are expanding capacity and taking on contracts that are moving away from Russian sources. This not only increases the demand for scrap overall but also is redefining the shipping lanes and relationships for how scrap flows. Generation sources are not always located close to a user of the scrap so that is having some impact as well.”

The expanded use of electron beam (EB) melt systems, international turmoil, and other market conditions have altered Schmink’s assessment of the titanium scrap market. “In 2022, I estimated that total scrap utilized in titanium melting was roughly 115,000 metric tons, and that number would grow to 232,000 metric by 2030. Now, my estimate is that it will basically double. That’s not a U.S. number; it’s a global number. On top of that, in 2022, you had utilization of scrap in

sacrificial markets of roughly 88,000 metric tons with growth in that segment to 120,000 metric tons by 2030.”

Schmink offered insights into the “segregation” of the titanium scrap market. “The scrap market is both segregated and not segregated.

Certainly, from a usage perspective, there is clear delineation of what types of scrap are usable for the different markets. The aerospace market is much more stringent in the type of scrap it can use. Ferrotitanium is basically everything else.

Industrial applications are essentially commercially pure scrap so that one is pretty well segregated though there are some stainless applications that require commercially pure scrap so there is some competition there.

“The markets historically have been fairly close together though there has been a divergence recently,” Schmink continued. “Aerospace grade scrap has become much more valuable than ferrotitanium grade scrap, and that is reflected in

the price. However, this is difficult because there is a relationship.

Turnings scrap is where we see this the most. Turnings that qualify for aerospace essentially qualify based on chemistry. If there is too much contamination it is downgraded for use in ferrotitanium. However, as there is such a disparity in value between these two applications, it muddies the water a bit and makes managing those scrap flows very difficult.”

Schmink also provided an update on the scrap operations of Aeropro Industries, a joint venture between EJ Metals and AllTi, based in Redford, MI. He said Aeropro is operating and involved in qualification trials, “working with some potential customers to identify their needs and see if we are a good fit.”

The Industry Dance Between Scrap and Sponge The business dynamics in the relationship between titanium scrap and titanium sponge production can be puzzling, even for seasoned industry observers. There are questions about what material stream is best suited for a given production application, and which material stream is the most cost effective.

Today, global supply chain issues have become a major factor when it comes to price comparisons and market demand, especially when many in the titanium industry have raised concerns over potential metal shortages.

According to various online news outlets (Reuters, Financial Times, Washington Tariff and Trade Letter and others), Japan is the largest supplier of titanium sponge for the United States, especially aerospacegrade sponge. Since the closing of facilities by Timet and ATI, it’s believed that there is virtually TITANIUMTODAY

29

Industry Executives Share Observations On Near-Term Titanium Scrap Trends (continued)

no industrial titanium sponge production in the United States.

Takeshi Nakashima, the deputy general manager of the titanium division of Toho Titanium Co. Ltd., Japan, a producer of titanium sponge, offered a cautious outlook on the production and availability of titanium sponge for the global aerospace market during his presentation at TITANIUM USA 2023 held in Denver. “Aerospace supply chain will face a sponge shortage as well as its own production ability,” he warned. “The sponge demand and supply gap will keep increasing, even if OEMs ramp up production gradually. A shift of sponge allocation from the industrial market to the aerospace market might occur to catch up with increasing demand.”

The aerospace supply chain and OEMs need to understand that a large-scale investment in titanium sponge production normally requires up to four years construction, he pointed out. “Sponge suppliers are trying to expand capacity by 10 to 20 percent, which will increase sponge supply for aerospace market. Many sponge suppliers still haven’t reached full capacity and are trying to ramp up their production.”

Nakashima estimated that sponge demand for commercial and military aerospace (excluding China) registered about 75,000 metric tons in 2023, and would continue to grow, reaching about 115,000 metric tons by the year 2031. “Sponge suppliers expect a shortage of sponge supply will increase sponge prices continuously even though production costs fall. Sponge suppliers need to gain enough profit for new investments. The aerospace supply chain will secure enough sponge that they need if they can accept a reasonable sponge price.”

30

TITANIUMTODAY

(Editor’s note: Nakashima also was a speaker at the TITANIUM EUROPE 2024 conference held May 7-9 in Dublin, Ireland, and his remarks are included in a story appears in this issue.)

Another speaker at TITANIUM USA 2023, Yasuji Yamao, the chairman of the Japan Titanium Society and the president and representative director of Toho Titanium Co. Ltd., said titanium sponge demand surged in 2021 with the recovery from the Covid pandemic downturn. Japan sponge shipments, domestic and export, are expected to surpass 60,000 metric tons in 2023, which would be a record high and above 2019 levels of sponge shipments. Titanium sponge production in Japan registered 47,000 metric tons in 2022.

Schmink weighed in on the topic and provided his own observations.

“Sure, there are definitely complexities in the scrap/sponge formulation,” Schmink said. “In other words, making sure you are making the right blend of material to reach a desired chemistry. That can certainly muddy the waters a bit as scrap demand may go up or down depending on the pedigree of the scrap. However, in simple terms, the titanium melter has a basic choice when choosing to melt titanium ingot. Do I melt sponge mixed with master alloy or do I melt scrap?

(There is always a little bit of sponge in there. No melter consistently melts only scrap and some specifications do not allow for all scrap. But it comes down to a market decision: which is most cost-effective and does the melter have the right equipment to take advantage of variation in the markets. I think that is why you are seeing more melters installing EB Hearth Melting capacity. They want the flexibility to change things up

when market conditions dictate a different mix.”

Nick Corby, vice president, titanium products and services at ELG Utica Alloys, Downingtown, PA, gave his assessment. “Scrap and sponge compete as raw material sources for the melters,” Corby said.

“Whichever offers the greatest cost benefit, ultimately will have higher demand. While this is certainly not a one for one, it serves as a good general rule. Other factors are that master alloy prices impact the value of scrap as well (vanadium, molybdenum, etc.), and newer melt technologies actually need a certain amount of scrap to produce consistent chemistry in the heats. This prevents melters from going to 100 percent sponge and alloy, while chemistry will impede 100 percent scrap heats due to higher oxygen levels or trace elements in scrap.”

Corby said he believes the demand on titanium scrap will remain strong in the near term. “The demand on scrap will continue at its current levels for the next five year. This is driven not only by the aerospace industry growth, but also the installation of new melting capacities in the United States that have scrap as a raw material component at their core.”

Given the ongoing global business disruptions caused by the Russia/ Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, concerns remain regarding titanium scrap and metal supply chains, according to Corby. The immediate impact was uncertainty of supply of mill products and understanding these disruptions.

Long term, both Airbus and Boeing have announced their intention to decouple from Russian supplied titanium mill products. While initially started to meet increasing demands in Aerospace (and other markets), it looks like U.S. melt

SPECIALTY METALS SUPPLY SOLUTIONS AEROSPACE | DEFENSE | MEDICAL| INDUSTRIAL | OIL AND GAS Please contact your local representative for an immediate quote.

Toll free number: 1-888-482-6486 Titanium Industries, Inc.

titanium.com

sales@titanium.com

The Titanium Connection to DB Cooper A microscopic metal fragment found on the tie of infamous plane hijacker D.B. Cooper has been determined to be part stainless steel, part titanium. Host of the podcast “The Cooper Vortex”, Darren Schaefer, interviews ITA’s own Stan Seagle regarding this important discovery.

Listen Now To The Cooper Vortex Podcast

Concerns Rise Over Possible Titanium Shortages in 2024 (continued) expansion will be needed to cover Russia’s market share to the OEM’s.”

Regarding worries of metal and scrap shortages in the near term, Corby said he believes that U.S. melters have “caught up” with demand, while noting that there are still some concerns. “The rising issue is with new melt capacity coming online in 2024 and beyond, will supply/demand remain in balance?

Based upon United States Geological Survey (USGS) statistics, 2023 scrap Imports have reached the same levels they were in 2017 and 2018, but are still about 12-percent short of 2019 where the supply/demand curve was essentially in balance. So technically, we are still short on scrap. Sponge at the moment is available to cover the 32

TITANIUMTODAY

aforementioned gap, but once the new melting capacity comes online, it appears that there will be an imbalance.” (The USGS is based in Reston, VA.) Aeropro Industries “The disruption for scrap is a matter of getting the scrap where it needs to go,” Schmink observed. “Since the United States is the largest consumer of scrap for new titanium, that creates some difficulty since there are so many generation points. However, the industry I think is doing a pretty good job of adjusting to that and moving the scrap where it needs to go,

but this will continue to be an issue.

Nearly all of the major U.S. melters have announced capacity expansions.

As they are the predominate melters of scrap, this will require additional scrap handling and processing capacity in the industry. Some companies, such as our company Aeropro, are looking to try and fill that potential gap.” n

YOUR ONLINE SOURCE FOR AEROSPACE GRADE TITANIUM

• WATERJET ADDITIONAL •• TITANIUM NICKEL • LASER • PLASMA PRODUCTS & •• STAINLESS DUPLEX • PLATE SAW SERVICES • COBALT • AND MORE! 24-7 Instant pricing!

QUOTE, BUY, TRACK... IT’S THAT EASY

@ ROLLEDALLOYS.COM

Product Quality Improvement Through the Application of Vacuum Arc Remelting Transverse Magnetic Fields

By Paul E. King, Ph.D.

T

his article addresses the product quality improvements demanded from the increasingly severe service conditions that we are expecting from the metal alloys we use on a daily basis. For instance, turbine blades, typically made of titanium (Ti-6Al-4V), are being asked to maintain their physical integrity regardless of the fact that we are also asking the components made from it to be lighter (e.g. thinner sections) and to operate under more extreme conditions in order to meet carbon emissions standards.

For these materials to continue to meet these stringent requirements, tighter controls over chemistry and structure must be maintained. Yet, Delzant et al1 have recently shown that there is as high as a 12.5-percent segregation of vanadium across the cross section of a Ti-6Al-4V ingot. It is indicated that this variation is due to the processing conditions itself while this high of a variation could lead to catastrophic failures in the components made from them.

Titanium and other alloys of high value such as nickel based super alloys, highly alloyed steels and other reactive metals such as zirconium, are typically melted by vacuum arc remelting (VAR), a metallurgical process used to produce high homogeneity in the alloys such.

Although VAR-melted material

Figure 1-Uncontained engine failure on a British Airways 777 occurred upon take off from Las Vegas in 2018.

Figure 2 - “Contained” engine failure on SW Flight 1380 resulting in one loss of life due to structural damage from engine debris.

Source - NTSB

represents only a small fraction of the overall metals industry, the products made from these metals are often of the highest criticality. Failure of the parts means catastrophic results, including loss of life.2 One would expect that failures would be rare, and they are in terms of probabilities. But,

Titanium and other alloys of high value such as nickel based super alloys, highly alloyed steels and other reactive metals such as zirconium, are typically melted by vacuum arc remelting (VAR), a metallurgical process used to produce high homogeneity in the alloys such. Although VAR-melted material represents only a small fraction of the overall metals industry, the products made from these metals are often of the highest criticality. Failure of the parts means catastrophic results, including loss of life.

—Paul E. King

1 Delzant, Chapelle, Jardy, Matveichev and Millet -Impact of a Transient and Asymmetrical Distribution of the Electric Arc on the Solidification Conditions of the Ingot in the VAR Process. Metals 2022, 12, 500.

2 https://abc13.com/philadelphia-southwest-airlines-emergency-landing-international-airport/4691167/ 3 A contained engine failure is one in which all internal rotating components remain within or embedded in the engine’s case (including any containment wrapping that is part of the engine), or exit the engine through the tail pipe or air inlet.

4 An uncontained engine event occurs when an engine failure results in fragments of rotating engine parts penetrating and escaping through the engine case.

34

TITANIUMTODAY

Nano Ti Wires Innovative and cost-effective titanium wires for the aerospace industry

The project funded by Innovate UK Epoch Wires is pleased to announce their involvement in an Innovate UK research project as part of the “NATEP helping SMEs innovate in aerospace - Autumn 2021” competition. The project entitled “NanoTi - Grain refinement of Ti-6Al-4V wire to enable Aerospace DED AM” is led by Epoch Wires and supported by TWI. The project aims to design novel-alloy wire chemistry to minimise the grain growth in Ti6Al4V alloys deposited by Additive Manufacturing. In this work, Epoch Wires will produce new wires with a nanoparticle injection, forming equiaxed grains to enhance the mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V alloys.

TWI will be depositing the wires using laser, plasma, and electron-beam additive manufacturing techniques. Epoch Wires will be utilising it’s proprietary technology of producing metal-cored wires using continuous laser-seam welding technology, designed for titanium alloys.

The NanoTi project has received funding from Innovate UK under grant agreement No. 10030392.

Laser-seam welded Ti6Al4V wire

Ti6Al4V material deposited using Nano Ti wires, with laser additive manufacturing technology (image courtesy of TWI) Contact Serdar Atamert (CEO) serdar.atamert@epochwires.com +44 (0) 7414 866801 Epochwires.com info@epochwires.com Unit 8, Burlington Park, Cambridge, CB22 6SA, UK

Product Quality Improvement Through the Application Of Vacuum Arc Remelting Transverse Magnetic Fields (continued) in terms of the number events on an annual basis, they are more common than we would like, with “contained”3 and “uncontained”4 engine failures on commercial jet liners happening more than once per year on average in the United States alone.

The VAR process itself is more than 70 years old and has remained relatively unchanged for decades.

Although incremental changes in operations have increased product quality over the years, there has been no substantial update to these highly used melting processes since the introduction of video cameras and the development of “drip short control.” Both of these advancements occurred in the last century (1980’s).

In 1989, the United Flight 232 airplane crash at Sioux City, IA, caused by an uncontained engine failure, provided a call to arms for the industry. At the suggestion of the FAA, the industry was challenged to improve product quality through better process control. To this day, industry safety committees exist with their roots to that call to arms, specifically the Jet Engine Titanium Quality Control Committee (JETQC).

More recently, the American Airlines 383 incident at Chicago’s O’Hare airport in October of 2016 renewed the call to action and the renewal of the Jet Engine Nickel Quality Control Committee (JENQC).

With renewed concerns regarding the quality of the metals going into such critical components as exhibited here, and with the increases in performance that we are asking of our metals as a result of decarbonization and/or supersonic flight, for example, a renewed effort in ensuring higher metal quality is certainly warranted.

Ampere Scientific, based in Albany, OR, and founded in 2014,

36

TITANIUMTODAY

Figure 3 - Render of an industrial VAR with VARmetric sensors (orange stripes on the bottom portion of the VAR) installed.

has been working on this problem for more than two decades. With its early work within the U.S. Department of Energy, the founders were able to successfully develop and demonstrate a new measurement system capable of identifying the types of events within the VAR process that lead to defects in the base metal. Much like a medical magnetic resonance imaging system, this new technology utilizes the varying magnetic fields produced by the VAR to image within the VAR. The (then) scientists at the National Lab realized the power and potential of the technology as a diagnostic tool to increase product quality.

Since 2014, this laboratory experiment has become a robust, industrial process.

Coined “VARmetric,” this measurement system is gaining ground as the measurement system for metal quality in titanium (and nickel super alloy) melting via VAR. The system itself mounts to the exterior of the VAR

water jacket with a static mounting system, and passively monitors the process, sending signals to the control room at a rate of 500 samples per second. This data is then analyzed by a combination of mathematical routines and machine learning algorithms in order to detail the dynamics of the melting system and to categorize these states. It is well documented that the changing states of operation are the root cause of many of the defects categorized by the industry. Yet, the industry state of the art measurements cannot identify these changes in state.

One such state change of major concern to the titanium melting community is the so-called “side arc.” In this case, the plasma arc utilized as the heating source during melting, transitions from between

tricormetals.com

astrolite.com

Titanium Mill Products: Sheet, Plate, Bar,Pipe,Tube,Fittings, Fasteners, Expanded Sheet & Ti Clad Copper or Steel.

Titanium Forgings and Billet: Staged intermediate ingot & billet to deliver swift supply of high quality forgings in all forms and sizes including: rounds, shafts, bars, sleeves, rings, discs, custom shapes, and rectangular blocks.

tricoralloys.com

Ti sheet, plate, bar, & forgings 6/4,6/4ELI, CP Ti, Welding Wire, & Fabrications

Titanium, Zirconium, Tantalum & High-Alloy Fabrication & Field Repair Services: Vessels, Columns, Heat Exchangers, Piping, Anodes, Custom Fabrications, Field & In-House Reactive-Metal Welding & Equipment Repair Services Available 24/7.

Tricor Metals, Ohio Division 3225 W. Old Lincoln Way Wooster, Ohio 44691 Phone: 330-264-3299 Fax: 330-264-1181

Plate Heat Exchangers: Plate Heat Exchangers to ASME VIII Div 1 Design, Ports from 1” through 20” with Stainless Steel, Titanium and Special Metals, Plate Heat Exchanger Refurbishing Services & Spare Parts.

Tricor Metals, Texas Division 3517 North Loop 336 West Conroe, Texas 77304 Phone: 936-273-2661 Fax: 936-273-2669

Two Service Centers & Fabrication Facilities in Ohio & Texas with Capabilities in: Waterjet, Welding, Machining, Sawing, Plasma Cutting & Forming.

Serving a Wide Variety of Industries: Chemical Processing, Mining, Pulp & Paper, Plating, Aerospace, Power and others.

Tricor Metals, Michigan Division 44696 Helm St. Plymouth, MI 48170 Phone: 734-454-3485 Fax: 734-454-7110 Astrolite Alloys California Division 201 Bernoulli Circle, Units B & C Oxnard, CA 93030 Phone: 805-487-7131 Fax: 805-487-9694

Product Quality Improvement Through the Application Of Vacuum Arc Remelting Transverse Magnetic Fields (continued) geometry.

VARmetric can measure whether the electrode is centered or not and can either provide the operator a suggested amount to move the electrode in the x-y direction or can be integrated into the control system to automatically maintain a centered electrode.

A second example is the case of an Figure 4-VARmetric data indicating variations in the state of onset of a side arc. operations during a single melt. State 1 is recognized as an off-center VARmetric can constricted arc; State 2 is an off-center diffuse arc that is oscillating; measure the onset State 3 is a slightly off-centered diffuse arc that is rotating; State 4 is an off center constricted arc that is also rotating; and state 5 is a of a side arc and centered constricted arc. provide a measure of severity of the the electrode and the ingot to being condition within 10-100 ms. Once between the electrode and the the severity threshold is reached, crucible wall. This type of event can VARmetric can either provide audible cause catastrophic failure of the alarms or shut the system down to crucible causing a series of staged avoid any further catastrophes. explosions powerful enough to ruin As a measurement system, buildings and leading to loss of life, VARmetric provides superior process equipment, production schedules and information over what exists today. opportunity.

At the end of each melt campaign, a VARmetric was first introduced report of product quality is provided as a developmental product in and the data archived. Engineers 2015 and as an industrial process can then recall the data to perform measurement system in 2018. Overall, additional analyses as required, VARmetric provides a passive means investigating such events as arc states, of measuring the VAR process, arc locations, transition from state providing critical information to state, shelf fall-in, etc. As a passive and warnings to the control room measurement system, VARmetric operators. Action on these warnings is recognized as providing valuable can either be integrated to the control information regarding the postsystems through the existing PLC processed ingot quality. ARControl, gateways, or can be implemented by on the other hand, is an active the operators based upon an analysis control capable of tailoring the of the severity of the warning. heat flux subject to precise quality For example, centering of the requirements. electrode within the VAR is critical The basic idea behind the to maintaining uniform melt pool 38

TITANIUMTODAY

ARControl is to utilize magnetic fields to influence the current conduction within the VAR. This is not a new idea and, in fact, magnetic fields are used every day to manipulate the plasmas in VAR processing of titanium every day. The industry standard use of magnetic fields has been to outfit the VAR water jacket with a solenoid type coil. In this case, the magnetic fields produced are parallel to the current conduction pathway in the electrode and across the arc gap within the crucible; however they are perpendicular to the current conduction pathway within the molten metal pool. Maxwell’s Law clearly defines the force interaction here, where parallel current and magnetic fields do not interact but perpendicular ones do. Because of this, the applied fields have little or no effect on the current pathway except when it is transversing the molten pool. The force applied then instigates a stirring action within the metal pool and hence this configuration is called a stirring coil.

ARControl, on the other hand, does not influence the molten pool as

Figure 6-ARControl coils with integrated VARmetric installed on a 1m diameter VAR melting titanium alloys.

HIGH QUALITY CUTTING & GRINDING

EQUIPMENT

Centro-Metalcut designs and builds heavy-duty conditioning grinders and abrasive cutoff saws for the titanium industry capable of cutting and grinding a variety of materials in single or batch quantities.

CONDITIONING GRINDERS

Stationary Grinders

Overhead Grinders

Track Grinders

Pivot Saws

Gantry Saws

Wet Saws

ABRASIVE CUTOFF SAWS * All machines are proudly manufactured in the USA and are made to bring you a continuous ROI that lasts for years down the road.

WE IMPLEMENT CONSTANT LOAD TECHNOLOGY, WHICH OFFERS BENEFITS SUCH AS: Constant surface speed while cutting and grinding, increased quality of the end product, increased tool life, less conditioning of metal aaer the cut, fast and compact design, highest degree of safety, better yield loss, and improved surface finish.

WE TEAMED UP WITH PRECISION ABRASIVES

Learn more at www.centrometalcut.com/about/news

CONTACT US | (815) 885-1300 | cmsales@quantumdi.com | centrometalcut.com

Product Quality Improvement Through the Application Of Vacuum Arc Remelting Transverse Magnetic Fields (continued)

Figure 5-Comparison of the operations between the industry standard stirring coil (top) and the use of transverse fields generated by ARControl (bottom).

the magnetic fields are parallel to the current in the molten metal pool. It does, however, influence the current in the electrode and across the arc gap. Because of this, the magnetic field can be manipulated in order to reposition the current carrying arcs, especially across the arc gap. In this manner, ARControl takes a random process (the arc dynamics) and turns it into a process control variable! We can now control the arc dynamics, hence heat flux and solidification.

This is all capable now because the motion of the arcs is measurable with the VARmetric. That is, the two systems work in concert with one another.

The figure at right shows overhead images of the arc distribution as measured by VARmetric. In the left image, no control is applied to the system and the arcs move as a stochastic process. Meanwhile, on the right, ARControl was implemented to provide a nine-point star pattern.

This heat flux pattern is just one of any number of heat flux patterns and was chosen for several reasons: a) we 40

TITANIUMTODAY

desired to maintain a flat electrode tip bottom; b) we desired to have an as close to a uniform heat flux distribution as possible; c) we desired to have the shelf to be washed every revolution so that there was not any shelf buildup; and d) we desired to maintain this through the final, hot topping phase of the melting to reduce the shrinkage and hence reduce the amount of material being cropped.

Overall, in this case, we provided an avenue for the customer to achieve as high as a 13-percent increase in yield through a combination of improved skin quality and decreased cropping. Additionally, in this case, the metal quality proved to be more uniform over their existing operations.

In 2005, Maurer et al[1] indicated the nine key elements of the vacuum arc remelting process that needs improvement in order to achieve defect free products. These items included maintaining uniform chemistry, removal of non-metallic inclusions, prevention of shelf fallin and to control the melt pool geometry and fluid flow in order to minimize chemical segregation. In 2022, deBarbadillo[2] expanded upon this to include other defect types not specifically identified by the previous study. In the 17 years between these works, the only technology to predict

Figure 8-Improved skin quality through the application of ARControl.

and avoid operating conditions that lead to defects is the VARmetric and ARControl suite.

Today, we demand a tremendous amount of our specialty alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V. For such applications as commercial air transportation, failure of the components is catastrophic and can cause loss of life. To combat this, the industry has adopted a statistical approach to quality driven by regulations and the vast historical data available. Yet, catastrophic events such as uncontained engine failures continue to occur due to the introduction of crack initiation sites during the processing of the base alloys. Ampere Scientific has introduced and validated new measurement and control systems capable of ensuring a defectless metal from the VAR process.

As Ampere Scientific looks to the future, and as we continue to develop Figure 7-Comparison of the arc distribution maps for the uncontrolled the evidence (left) and controlled (right) VAR melting Ti-6Al-4V.

Your Global Leader for Titanium Melting Technologies

US: +1 (716) 463-6400

EU: +48 68 38 20 500

w w w . r e te c h s y ste m s l l c . c o m Plasma Arc • Electron Beam • Cold Wall Induction • Vacuum Arc Remelting • Atomization

EXHIBITION IS SOLD OUT! Guest Room Block Closes September 1st VIEW SPEAKERS | AGENDA REGISTER HERE

T I TA N I U M . O R G OCT 6-9 • AUSTIN, TX • USA

SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE SPONSORS

Product Quality Improvement Through the Application Of Vacuum Arc Remelting Transverse Magnetic Fields (continued) on how we combat the lingering issues outlined by Maurer et al and deBarbadillo, we are also integrating our measurement and controls system into existing VAR installations. The future promises that we will also provide tighter coupling to new VAR systems, leading the industry to defect-free alloys. n [1] Maurer, G., Patel, A., Melt Processing of Superalloys: Past, Present and Future Needs, Proc. Liq. Metals Proc. and Casting Conf., 2005.

[2] deBarbadillo, J., The Road to Zero Defects in Nickle Superalloys, Proc. Liq. Metals Proc. and Casting Conf., 2022.

42

TITANIUMTODAY

[Editor’s note: Paul E. King is the CEO and president of Ampere Scientific (website: www.amperescientific.com/).

His responsibilities include leading the strategic, financial, operational and technical aspects of all Ampere Scientific product lines. King was a speaker at TITANIUM USA 2023 in Denver, presenting a paper on “Control of VAR processing utilizing Transverse Magnetic Fields.” Ampere Scientific is dedicated to the continuous improvement of specialty alloy production and processing. With its collection of sensor and control systems, combined with innovative software suite, Ampere Scientific offers advanced Vacuum Arc Remelting process monitoring and control systems.]

Rapid Response.

Dependable Delivery.

Exceptional Turnaround From a Proven Partner in Titanium Materials Testing

Product Evaluation Systems, Inc. (PES) is a fully accredited, independent leader in titanium materials testing for aerospace and other applications.

With a dedicated, experienced staff and state-of-the-art testing facilities, we offer full-service capabilities for all of your titanium testing needs, including: • Mechanical Testing • Metallurgical Analysis • Chemical Analysis PES responds to your needs promptly with personal service, customized solutions and expedient turnaround. We work with clients throughout the United States and Europe on projects of all types and sizes.

To request a free quote for your titanium testing needs and to see a full list of capabilities, please visit our website at www.PES-Testing.com or call 724-834-8848.

From the Wire

BODYCOTE ENTERS PRODUCTION FOR HOT ISOSTATIC PRESSING CAPACITY IN SOUTHEASTERN USA MACCLESFIELD (U.K.) — Bodycote, the world’s largest thermal processing services provider, has begun production for its previously reported expansion of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) services in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. In recognition of the growing market for additive manufacturing and the associated need for high-quality HIP processing, Bodycote commissioned additional HIP capacity to service the development and processing of advanced materials. Bodycote’s Greenville, SC plant is a Nadcapaccredited site and holds several core OEM approvals. The site consists of numerous vacuum furnaces, aluminum heat treatment, EDM, and other capabilities well suited to support additive manufacturing customers. The Greenville site serves the aerospace, defense, power generation, medical and general industrial customers throughout the Southeastern region.

About Bodycote

With more than 165 accredited facilities in 22 countries, Bodycote is the world’s largest provider With Greenville’s additional HIP of thermal processing services. capacity now in full production, Date: August 2024 Through Specialist Technologies Bodycote addresses the rising Length: 217 Words and classical heat treatment, customer demand for highly Bodycote improves the properties reliable additive manufacturing of metals and alloys, extending post-processing. The capacity is the life of vital components for a well situated near key customers wide range of industries, including and otherBODYCOTE Bodycote locationsENTERS to PRODUCTION FOR HOT ISOST aerospace, defence, automotive, simplify the supply chain and reduce power generation, medical, oil & gas, USA PRESSING IN SOUTHEASTERN transportation. This continued CAPACITY construction, and transportation. investment is part of Bodycote’s Customers in all of these industries commitment to align resources to have entrusted their products to serve the North American market.

Bodycote’s for thermal more than 50 MACCLESFIELD (U.K.) — Bodycote, the world’s care largest processing service years. For more information visit Bodycote operates the world’s largest begun production for its previously reported expansion of Hot Isostatic Pressing (H www.bodycote.com. network of HIP equipment. Having Greenville,industry South Carolina, established expertiseUSA. over For more information, please decades, Bodycote has more than contact: Jamie Kuriger, Regional 50InHIP vessels of sizesmarket for additive recognition of varying the growing manufacturing and the associated nee Sales Manager in multiple locations. Processing HIP processing, Bodycote commissioned additional HIP capacity to service the d Email: jamie.kuriger@bodycote.com capability can accommodate processing nominally of advanced components up materials. to 6.5ft in Bodycote’s Greenville, SC plant is a Nadcap-acc diameter by 12ftcore high,OEM and weighing holds several approvals. The site consists of numerous vacuum furnaces over 30,000kg. treatment, EDM, and other capabilities well suited to support additive manufacturing

Greenville site serves the aerospace, defense, power generation, medical and g throughout the Southeastern region.

SOLAR MANUFACTURING APPOINTS customers NICHOLAS MAX AS CHIEF MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Sellersville, PA, June 18 – Solar Manufacturing, Inc. recently announced the hiring of Nicholas Max, BSME Drexel University, as its Chief Mechanical Engineer to head up its vacuum furnace mechanical design group. Nick is also pursuing an MBA at Lehigh University in Bethlehem PA. Nick will be tasked to lead the further development of Solar Manufacturing’s energy efficient hot zones, vacuum vessels, high pressure gas quenching systems, and vacuum pumping systems. Nick was a Program Manager in his last position and led a team of design

its excellent reputation as an demand for highly reliable additive manufacturing post-processing. The capacity is w industry leader of robust vacuumthe supply chain and reduc key customers and other Bodycote locations to simplify engineers who were focused on furnace designs.”

This continued investment is the part of Bodycote’s commitment to align resources to development of specialty battery American market.

Solar technologies for space and defense Manufacturing applications. designsofand Bodycote operates the world’s largest network HIP equipment. Having established in Bob Wilson, VP of Engineering manufactures a over decades, Bodycote has more than 50 HIP vessels of varying sizes in multiple locat wide variety of vacuum heat treating, stated, “Nick will be an excellent capability accommodate components nominally to 6.5ftfurnaces. in diameter by 12ft hig sintering, andupbrazing addition to can our design team from his They also offer replacement hot rich, industrial overmulti-disciplinary 30,000kg. experience of the past 10 years. zones, spare parts, and professional He will work alongside me for the service. To learn more about Solar – Endsvisit – us at solarmfg.

Manufacturing next couple of years as I prepare for com or call 267-384-5040. eventual retirement. The company will be well-positioned to continue

44

About Bodycote

TITANIUMTODAY

With Greenville’s additional HIP capacity now in full production, Bodycote addresses the

With more than 165 accredited facilities in 22 countries, Bodycote is the world's lar

From the Wire (continued)

CHRIS CONSTABLE JOINS THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERES OF SAN DIEGO TEAM El Cajon, CA, June 13, 2024 – Solar Atmospheres’ newest acquisition, Solar Atmospheres of San Diego, is pleased to announce the addition of Chris Constable as their new Vice President of Operations.

Chris brings with him nearly 25 years of Heat Treating experience that includes quality, operations, management, plant safety, business development, and sales. Chris is well suited to understanding the customers’ needs and providing effective solutions to their most difficult challenges. Coupled with the Solar Atmospheres knowledgeable and dedicated team, Solar

Atmospheres of San Diego stands ready to provide high-quality heattreating services with a focus on honesty and integrity and a reliable customer service experience.

Derek Dennis, President of Solar Atmospheres of California, states, “We are very fortunate to introduce Chris into the Solar Family of companies. As a highly disciplined business leader, Chris has the experience and knowledge to lead the Solar San Diego team through the new acquisition and establish a solid foot hold in the Southern California heat treat and brazing market. I enthusiastically welcome

SOLAR ATMOSPHERES OF MICHIGAN FACILITY EXPANSION Chesterfield, MI, July 17, 2024 – After successfully relocating and commissioning ten vacuum furnaces into their current facility, Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Inc. is poised for further expansion. Bulldozers have commenced work on a new 20,000-square-foot building, which will more than double the current footprint at their Chesterfield, Michigan location.

Bob Hill, President of Solar Atmospheres of Michigan, commented, “This expansion will create a larger shipping and receiving area to better serve our customers’ needs and position us for future growth. Come watch us grow!”

For more information about the Solar Atmospheres Michigan facility contact Chris Molencupp at (586) 264-8100 ext. 1620, or chrism@solaratm.com, and visit us at www.solaratm.com.

46

TITANIUMTODAY

Chris to the Solar team and look forward to working with him in the growth of the Solar San Diego operation.

Truly exciting times for Solar Atmospheres!”

For more information about the Solar Atmospheres of San Diego facility, visit solaratm.com, or contact Chris directly at 619-5933636 ext. 1933, or Chrisc@solaratm. com.

Design vupar.fr

The solutions we create provide value to your business

ARIES Manufacturing is dedicated to the supply of complex airframe structure components, in both titanium and aluminum alloys, to leading manufacturers in the aerospace industry.

ARIES Manufacturing is part of the ARIES Alliance, a group of companies focused on developing innovative technology that creates value for the aerospace industry.

Design vupar.fr

Superplastic Forming and Hot Forming for titanium airplane structural and engine components

HSF® process technology for titanium airframe components

Panel mechanical pocket milling, drilling and trimming

ACB

Part production facility Nantes - France +33 (0)2 51 13 84 00

DUFIEUX

Part production facility Grenoble - France +33 (0)4 76 09 67 44

CYRIL BATH

Part production facility Monroe - NC USA +704 289 8531

sales@aries-manufacturing.com wwww.aries-manufacturing.com

In Memoriam

CHARLES YOUNG We are saddened to announce the passing of Charles “Chuck” Young on June 12, 2024. Chuck was 76 years old and worked at Tricor since 2009. He was born in Pennsylvania and graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a degree in Metallurgy. He also had an MBA from Ashland University. Chuck was a longtime promotor of Titanium. He had worked at several companies where Titanium was their main product. Chuck also served on the board of directors for the Materials Technology Institute. He has written many papers and done many presentations promoting Titanium and other corrosion resistant materials. Chuck will be deeply missed by his many friends and colleagues.

ALD Vacuum Technologies ALD Vacuum Technologies High Tech is our Business High Tech is our Business SYSTEMSSYSTEMS FOR AVIATION INDUSTRIES FOR METALLURGY AND HEAT TREATMENT VACUUM AND TECHNOLOGIES SYSTEMS FOR AVIATION INDUSTRIES MELTING SYSTEMS MELTING SYSTEMS � VIM Master Melting � VAR � VIM Master Melting � � ESR VAR � EB Melting � ESR � PA Melting PAM Melting � EB Melting � PA Melting

NEAR NET SHAPE TECHNOLOGY NEAR NET SHAPE TECHNOLOGY CASTING SYSTEMS � VIM-IC CASTING SYSTEMS � Leicomelt � VIM-IC Cold Crucible � with Leicomelt � VAR Skull Melting with Cold Crucible � VAR Skull Melting

HOT ISOTHERMAL FORGING (HIF) HOT ISOTHERMAL FORGING (HIF)

METAL ADDITIVE POWDER MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION METAL ADDITIVE � EIGA: CeramicMANUFACTURING Powder � free EIGA:Metal CeramicProduction free Metal Powder � VIGA: Inert Gas Production Atomization � VIGA: Inert Gas Equipment Atomization

COATING SYSTEMS COATING SYSTEMS � EB-PVD SYSTEMS

ElectronSYSTEMS Beam Physical Vapour � EB-PVD

Deposition (EB-PVD) of Thermal Electron Beam Physical Vapour Barrier Coatings (TBC) Deposition (EB-PVD) of Thermal

Barrier Coatings (TBC) CVD SYSTEMS Chemical Vapor Deposition for non metallurgy applications

HEAT TREATMENTTREATSYSTEMS HEAT ® MENT SYSTEMS � SYNCROTHERM Total Integration® � SYNCROTHERM

of Heat Treatment Total Integration into Component of Heat Treatment Manufacturing into Component Manufacturing

Equipment

Courtesy of SLM Solutions Courtesy of SLM Solutions

ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH Otto-von-Guericke-Platz 1 | 63457 Hanau, Germany ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH T: +49 6181 307-0 | info@ald-vt.de Otto-von-Guericke-Platz 1 | 63457 Hanau, Germany T: +49 6181 307-0 | info@ald-vt.de

48

TITANIUMTODAY

ALD Vacuum Technologies North America, Inc. 18 Thompson Road | East Windsor, CT 06088, USA ALD Vacuum Technologies North America, Inc. T: +1 860 386 7227 | info@ald-usa.com 18 Thompson Road | East Windsor, CT 06088, USA T: +1 860 386 7227 | info@ald-usa.com

www.ald-vt.com www.ald-usa.com www.ald-vt.com www.ald-usa.com

TITANIUM TODAY The premier publication delivering key industry insights, technological breakthroughs, and expert analyses to the titanium industry. With a focus on actionable intelligence, each issue provides critical information to navigate the complexities of the market. From in-depth features to exclusive interviews, TITANIUM TODAY fosters collaboration and innovation, empowering stakeholders to stay informed and ahead of the curve in this dynamic field.

TITANIUM TODAY For information about advertising in Titanium Today contact: ahayden@titanium.org

7 mins 33 seconds Average read time in 2023

TITANIUM TODAY Data from Issuu: Jan 2023 - Dec 2023

16,764 Online Reads in

For information about advertising in Titanium Today contact: ahayden@titanium.org 2023

TITANIUM TODAY delivers key industry insights, technological breakthroughs, market trends, and expert analyses to an engaged readership across our online format.

TITANIUM TODAY Editions Regular Specialised Data from Issuu: Jan 2023 - Dec 2023

The premier publication delivering key industry insights, technological breakthroughs, expert to the titanium industry. With a focus on actionable For information about advertising in Titaniumand Today contact:analyses ahayden@titanium.org intelligence, each issue provides critical information to navigate the complexities of the market. From in-depth features to exclusive interviews, TITANIUM TODAY fosters collaboration and innovation, empowering stakeholders to stay informed and ahead of the curve in this dynamic field.

We regularly publish specialized editions of TITANIUM TODAY tailored to the aerospace and medical industries, as well as emerging markets, powder applications, industrial themes, and specialized editions coinciding with titanium conferences.

For information about advertising in Titanium Today contact: ahayden@titanium.org For information about advertising in Titanium Today contact: ahayden@titanium.org

50

TITANIUMTODAY

Butech Bliss delivers excellence in melting equipment repairs That’s why when it comes to the design and manufacture or the repair and reconditioning of crucibles, molds, and hearths for your ESR, VAR, EBM, or PAM installations, we draw on our more than 130 years of design, engineering and manufacturing excellence to ensure that your copper-based melting equipment is operating at peak efficiency.

A reputation for quality work and on-time delivery.

Our staff of expert millwrights, welders and machinists can tear down, assess, repair and test your valuable melting equipment.

Additionally, our manufacturing capabilities are fully supported by our staff of over 50+ engineers.

Our services include: • Machining, welding, straightening, and sizing of stainless steel, copper, nickel, aluminum, bronze, and carbon steel • Preventative maintenance, including cleaning, re-sizing, straightening and seal replacement • Crucible diameter and size modifications • New crucibles, molds, base assemblies, water jackets, etc.

To learn more about our rebuilding and manufacturing services,call (330) 337-0000, visit www.ButechBliss.com or email cu@butech.com.

We Build Things. Better.

550 South Ellsworth Avenue, Salem, OH

International Titanium Association

ITA Member Roster 2024 ITA Member

ITA Member

A. W. Bell

Dr. Markus Holz, Academic Member

Accushape Inc.

Duferco SA

ACNIS® International

ELG Utica Alloys, Inc.

Advanced Metal Industries CO (AMIC)

Fort Wayne Metals

Aerolloy Technologies Limited – A PTC Industries Company

FRIGGI N.A. Inc.

Aeropro Industries

GfE Metalle und Materialien GmbH

Airbus

Goldman Titanium

ALD Vacuum Technologies, Inc

Grandis Titanium

Alleima Tube AB

Greystone Alloys, LLC

All-Met Recycling

Hempel Special Metals AG

Alta Alloys

Horie Corporation

AMC LLC

Howmet Aerospace

Aries Manufacturing

Hunan Xiangtou Goldsky Titanium Metal Co., Ltd.

ASIIC UK LTD

ICD Alloys & Metals, LLC

ATI

Independent Forgings & Alloys Ltd

ATX Co.,Ltd.

Industrial Metals International Ltd.

Bahco

Inteco Melting & Casting Technologies

Banner Industries (Merged with Castle)

IperionX Limited

Baoji Hongsen Titanium Metal Manufactory Co.,Ltd

Jezhiang Shenji

Baoji Sino-Swiss Titanium Co.,Ltd

Jiangsu Hongbao High-Precise Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.

Baoji Titanium Industry Co., Ltd

Kamet

Bodycote

KASTO Inc.

Boeing Company

Keywell Metals LLC

Butech Bliss

KineTic Engineering

Carpenter Technology Corporation

Kings Mountain International (KMI)

Chengde Tianda Vanadium

Kittyhawk

CKOE

Kymera International

Consarc Corporation

Laboratory Testing Inc.

Consolidated Engineering Company

Leybold USA Inc

Coogee Titanium PTY LTD

Lockheed Martin Corporation

CSM Tech Co., Ltd.

M3 Metals

For complete company profiles, products and services, visit

www.TitaniumResourceCenter.org

52

TITANIUMTODAY

BANDSAW BLADES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CUTTING TITANIUM, TITANIUM ALLOY, STAINLESS STEEL AND ALUMINUM 3860 MULTI CHIP UNSET CARBIDE TIPPED BANDSAW BLADES PROVIDE A SUPERIOR FINISH, LONG LIFE AND ELIMINATED ADDITIONAL FINISHING OPERATIONS

https://www.bahco.com/us_en/ bandsaw@snapon.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT BAHCO BANDSAW BLADES

ITA Member Roster 2024 (continued) ITA Member

ITA Member

Medart Processing Technologies

Specialty Metals Processing Company

Mega Metals LLC

Star Group, India

Metals & Alloys UK

State Nuclear Baoti

MetCon Technologies, LLC

STRUCTURAL DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

Metraco, FE Mottram and Eesti Titaan oü

STS Metals

Mistras Group, Inc.

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA)

Monico Alloys, Inc.

TiFast Srl

Mott Corporation

Timesavers International B.V.

MPS Technology Sp. Z o.o.

TIMET, Titanium Metals Corporation

NobelClad

TITAN Metal Fabricators, Inc.

NSL Analytical

Titanium Consulting & Trading S.r.l.

Nu-Tech Precision Metals

Titanium Engineering

Oerlikon Metco (Canada) Inc.

Titanium Fabrication Corporation

Osaka Titanium technologies CO., Ltd.

Titanium Industries, Incorporated

Paris Saint-Denis Aero

Titanium International Group SRL

Perryman Company

Titanium Processing Center

Plaxys Inc.

Toho Titanium America Co., Ltd.

Plymouth Engineered Shapes

Tricor Metals

Precision Abrasives

Uhr Corp.

President Titanium Co., Inc.

Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals

Product Evaluations Systems, Inc (PES)

United Alloys & Metals Inc

Quantum Design Inc. / Centro Metalcut

United Performance Metals (UPMET)

Retech Systems LLC

United Titanium

Rex Heat Treat

US Vanadium

Rolled Alloys Inc

Vested Metals International, LLC

Ross Precision Manufacturing

VSMPO Tirus US

S+D Metals / Bibus Metals

Weber Metals

Service Steel Aerospace

Weiler Abrasives Group

SES, LLC

Wellmet International Inc.

Shaanxi Lasting Titanium Industry Co. Ltd

Xi’an Metals & Minerals Import & Export

Shaanxi Tian Cheng Aerospace Co., Ltd. (TCAE)

XI’AN XRUN NEW MATERIAL

Shasta Services LLC

Yunnan National Titanium Metal

Solar Atmospheres Specialty Metals Company

For complete company profiles, products and services, visit 54

TITANIUMTODAY

www.TitaniumResourceCenter.org

LOOKING FOR A PARTNER IN TITANIUM TECHNOLOGY? INTECO is your first choice for cutting edge plant technology and process know-how for melting, refining, casting, atomization and solidification of high performance steels, super-alloys and titanium.

Are you aiming to increase the recycling rates in your titanium production shop?

INTECO´s new innovative vacuum arc cold hearth skull melting and casting furnace ... › can achieve recycling rates of up to 100% by feeding virgin and scrap material (e.g. compacted chips) between melting & casting cycles › can achieve an improved energy efficiency compared to other cold hearth technologies › allows static casting of ingots and slabs as well as dynamic casting of complex investment cast parts › can achieve pouring weights from 250kg up to 2.500kg in one cast

› More than 15 years of experience as a premium supplier in the titanium industry › Supply of melting and casting equipment for titanium including auxiliaries › Engineering studies, project- and technology consulting for entire titanium production lines › Know-how transfer, from selections of raw material up to aerospace certification › Customized process and production management systems (IMAS) for titanium production lines

Contact us!

Visit our website INTECO melting and casting technologies GmbH

www.inteco.at

Advertiser Index

Company

Pg

Company

Pg

United Performance Metals (UPMET)

2

Titanium Industries Incorporated

19

Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals

5

Rolled Alloys Inc

21

Epoch Wires

23

Tricor Metals

25

Quantum Design Inc.

27

https://www.upmet.com/

https://www.ulbrich.com/

Kymera International

https://www.kymerainternational. com/?locale=en

TCAE

https://www.tcae.com/en/

Medart

https://www.medartglobal.com/

ACNIS

https://acnis-titanium.com/en/

TIMET, Titanium Metals Corporation

https://www.timet.com/

Solar Atmospheres

https://solaratm.com/

7

TITANIUMTODAY

https://www.rolledalloys.com/ https://www.epochwires.com/ https://tricormetals.com/

9

https://www.centrometalcut.com/

11

Retech Systems LLC

https://www.retechsystemsllc.com/

13 15

Product Evaluations Systems, Inc (PES) https://www.pes-testing.com/

17

29 31

Laboratory Testing Inc.

33

ALD Vacuum Technologies, Inc

35

https://labtesting.com/

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

56

http://www.titanium.com

https://www.ald-vt.com/

Company Aries Manufacturing

https://www.aries-manufacturing. com/

Pg 37

Banner Industries / AM Castle

39

Butech Bliss

41

http://www.edgeintl.com/

https://www.butechbliss.com/

Bahco

https://www .bahco.com/us_en/ bandsaw@snapon.com

43

Inteco Melting & Casting Technologies

45

Perryman Company

53

International Titanium Association

54

INTECO Titanium_full page_ITA format https://www.perrymanco.com/

http://www.TitaniumUSA.org

Positioned to Respond.

Our continued investment and expansion has us in the right place to meet your needs.

Our capacities and resources are aligned. We are prepared and well positioned to supply a full range of products including ingot, centerless ground bar, precision coil, additive wire, premium fine wire and shapes – all at competitive lead-times.

We are expertly equipped to address the growing demands of the aerospace, medical, recreation, infrastructure, and industrial markets worldwide. We understand the ever-changing factors of the industries we serve and are committed to supporting the growth of your business.

Fully Integrated Titanium Manufacturing 724.746.9390 | www.perrymanco.com