Identifying Challenges to the Commercial Viability of Direct Powder Rolled Titanium: A Systematic Review and Market Analysis
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Characterization of Direct Powder Rolled Titanium Metal Strip
2.1. Strip Thickness
2.2. Chlorine Levels
2.2.1. Sponge Fines
2.2.2. Hydride–Dehydride Powder (HDH)
2.2.3. Titanium Hydride (TiH2)
2.3. Oxygen Levels
3. Mechanical Properties of Direct Powder Rolled Titanium Metal Strip
- DPR followed by sintering only, or sintering + cold/hot rolling + annealing (green markers).
- CIP/die pressing followed by sintering only (white markers).
- TiH2 CIP/die pressing + sintering only (blue markers).
- TiH2 CIP/die pressing + sintering + hot roll + anneal (purple markers).
4. Wrought Product Price and Market Analysis
- A width of 660 mm or less (based on the widest mill, used by ADMA Inc, for DPR to date).
- A width of 120 mm or more. This excludes very thin products such as ribbon.
- A length of 500 mm or more. This limits price variability from customized products (sold at a premium) or offcuts (sold at a discount).
- There is overcapacity and an oversupply of sponge and mill product globally, but particularly so in China, which has seen a slowdown in demand [48].
- Although China is the largest producer of sponge, most of it is consumed domestically [49]. Of the mill product and sponge that is exported by China, it is predominantly for industrial applications [50], whereas the US or global sponge and mill markets are driven predominantly by aerospace applications [51,52]. Aerospace grade ingot and slab is typically manufactured via double or triple melting (known as VAR [53]), whereas industrial-grade material is often manufactured via melting in a cold hearth furnace (electron beam or plasma arc), which is lower in cost due to the ability to include a higher percentage of scrap [54]. Industrial mill products do not need to adhere to stringent aerospace specifications, which lowers the price. In addition, the industrial titanium market experiences price pressure from other metals competing for industrial applications [55].
- High-grade aerospace product from the US and Europe.
- Industrial grade product from China.
5. Powder Price and Market Analysis
6. Feasible Price Range for Titanium DPR Product
7. Potential DPR Product Applications
- Unlike aerospace, medical, and pressure vessel applications, the quality standards and expectations for products used in industrial heat exchangers and piping are less stringent, offering a natural market entry point.
- The dimensional requirements are within the process capabilities of DPR (width <610 mm and thickness <3 mm).
- Heat exchangers and piping are the most common applications for pure titanium and flat mill product (welded CP titanium tubing is deemed an important intermediate product60). Therefore, the market is large enough to warrant commercial potential.
8. DPR Strip Fabricability
8.1. Formability
8.2. Weldability
- Armstrong powder (low chlorine, developmental powder).
- HDH powder made from revert scrap (ingot derived and therefore low in chlorine).
- TiH2 (Ti-6Al-4V plate purchased from ADMA with low Cl due to “cleaning” effect of TiH2).
9. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Steytler, M.; Knutsen, R. Identifying Challenges to the Commercial Viability of Direct Powder Rolled Titanium: A Systematic Review and Market Analysis. Materials 2020, 13, 2124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13092124
Steytler M, Knutsen R. Identifying Challenges to the Commercial Viability of Direct Powder Rolled Titanium: A Systematic Review and Market Analysis. Materials. 2020; 13(9):2124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13092124
Chicago/Turabian StyleSteytler, Megan, and Robert Knutsen. 2020. "Identifying Challenges to the Commercial Viability of Direct Powder Rolled Titanium: A Systematic Review and Market Analysis" Materials 13, no. 9: 2124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13092124