Titanium Powder Plant gets Boost from Title III Published June 23, 2011 By Mr. Brad Sampson AFRL/RXME Materials and Manufacturing; WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- A team from the Air Force Research Laboratory and International Titanium Powder are expanding the domestic capacity to produce low-cost titanium powder. The Armstrong process employed is a unique, continuous process that produces metallic titanium powder directly from titanium ore. This project is expected to increase International Titanium Powder's titanium powder production capability to 4.4 million pounds per year. Titanium has excellent strength-to-weight and corrosion properties that make it useful for many structural aerospace and technology applications. Titanium is stronger and lighter than steel, and low-cost titanium powder has been tested in doors and side panels for ground vehicles. Using titanium reduces the material required to manufacture an aerospace component by up to 90 percent. The combination of low-cost powder with solid state consolidation offers the potential of cost reduction for titanium components by more than 50 percent. It is also expected to offer a 50 percent weight reduction in structural applications and a 30 percent weight reduction in ballistic applications. Weight reductions often lead to decreases in fuel consumption and logistical costs, while the increased strength and corrosion properties offer wear resistance and improved warfighter safety. By working outside of the aerospace titanium supply chain, which suffers from long lead times and rising costs, researchers expect to reduce costs and shorten titanium delivery lead times. Using affordable titanium is expected to increase force mobility, enhance survivability and reduce total lifecycle costs in military systems. The Title III project, launched in 2009, contributed to the purchase of equipment for a new powder plant for International Titanium Powder in Ottawa, IL, that will have two production lines.