New developments in TI production!

The General

The General

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Jun 6, 2000
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In this months New Scientist (P 44), there is an article about a new reveloution taking place in the production and mining of Titainium.

At the moment Ti like the popular 6AL4V must be made after the Ti has been 'formed'. The production of Ti requires a week of bathing in acid baths that can destroy just about anything. A huge amount of waste product is formed and it is all time consuming and very expensive. Another problem is the ability to form large Ti pre formed sections.

The Vanadium and Aluminium must be added after this or whatever alloy is required

Well all this means Ti is at least six times the price of a premium steel if not more.

A new development means the price of Ti will be reduced by between 60-85%! The process no longer requires acid baths and is much much better for the enviroment. The new process also allows the same volume of material to be produced in a day as took a week before, this includes addind whatever alloys are required as that can be a part of the process. The new process also makes a better Ti structure at a molecular level and will allow the cheap production of much stronger Ti alloys and even Ti memory alloys. I will not explain the process as its very long winded.

Did you know Ti is the 4th most abundent mineral? On Earth?

People we are looking at a genuine development here!:cool:
 
That's exciting news! Hope tho, that it doesn't turn out like the great peanut shortage. Somewhere in early 80's, I believe, there was a year with only a tiny fraction of normal peanut harvesting figures. The price soared. Everything was back to normal the following year. The prices have remained the same, and gone up over the years.

The fact that titanium can be produced much more cost effectively won't affect the products a whole bunch, unless some newer players get in the game, and are willing to accept a reasonable profit figure. That's my prediction, and you heard it here folks. I truly hope I've never been more wrong.
 
Hi General and Bugs

Interesting post. I have also read that with advances in the science of metalurgy that Ti may in the not too distant future become a very viable blade steel.

We love in very interesting times, especially for all us knife-knuts.

Let the good times roll! :D
 
Originally posted by The General
Did you know Ti is the 4th most abundent mineral? On Earth?
Click to expand...

I always found this a particularly cutting (see knife content) thing to mention when somebody is going on and on about their Ti frame bike.

I'm a good ol' air-hardening Reynolds 853 man myself.
 
mgeoffriau:

I don't know, I have a Col nago road bike and a Ritc hey softtail mountain bike but neither one compares to my Ibis ti Mojo :D

Not sure if ti will ever work for a blade though:confused: I don't think it has the right properties to hold an edge.
 
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