Global aerospace to benefit South Africa's titanium production

South Africa is blazing the trail in the development of cost effective methods to produce titanium, alloys and superior casting technology that will benefit the local and global aerospace manufacturing industry. At the centre of an exciting research and development program driven by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is a newly developed technology to produce titanium powder directly in a continuous manner from titanium tetrachloride.

To date, no organisation around the globe has been able to produce titanium powder in this way on a commercial scale. The CSIR is now building a pilot plant to up scale the new technology, working towards a short term goal of developing different hybrid materials that will work best for aircraft including alternating layers of carbon fibre and titanium.

Over the past decade, it has become increasingly evident in South Africa that the country has a growing industrial opportunity around its titanium-bearing minerals. Cost-effective methods of producing titanium metal and its alloys and the manufacturing of net and near-net products, offer the potential of a vibrant new South African industry sector.

Net or near-net products are casting that need little or no machining Meanwhile Boeing and the CSIR have cemented their collaboration in this exciting project according to Tendani Tsedu, CSIR Media Relations Manager. Tsedu said the two forces are cooperating in developing ways to incorporate titanium powder into novel industrial manufacturing processes and products. This mutually beneficial agreement, bolstered by South Africa's rich titanium ore reserves, supports the nation's long-term economic development goals that include the supply of titanium to many industries, including aerospace, Tsedu said.

Explaining the hype around the project, Tsedu said South Africa currently boasts the world’s second-largest reserves of titanium ore. He said the CSIR has developed and patented an innovative process that converts titanium tetrachloride to titanium powder. A bench-scale Titanium Pilot Plant to spearhead the upscaling of this technology was launched on 7 June 2013 by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Derek Hanekom.

In 2012, the CSIR and Boeing reached an agreement to collaborate on a Titanium Beneficiation Cooperative Research Plan that embraces these CSIR developed technologies. Dr Willie du Preez, Director of the Titanium Centre of Competence, said that the collaboration with Boeing will bring significant value to South Africa. "Boeing's competencies and experience regarding the applications of titanium in aerospace parts and structures will hugely complement the CSIR's drive towards commercialisation of the titanium technologies." Tsedu stated.
In an earlier press release Tsedu said J Miguel Santos, Boeing's International vice president for Africa, stated that the company is pleased to broaden its relationships in South Africa. "Our research and development agreement with the CSIR adds a new dimension to Boeing engagement in South Africa," Santos added. "We are

collaborating to leverage expertise and resources to advance South Africa's development goals and the competitiveness of Boeing products."

Tsedu said Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T) will oversee the company’s research activity in Africa's largest economy. As Boeing's advanced R&D organisation, BR&T is focused on developing future aerospace solutions and improving the cycle time, cost, quality and performance of current aerospace systems. BR&T conducts its own research and works with partners around the world to find technologies that are innovative and affordable.

He said the CSIR – in collaboration with researchers at various South African universities, science councils, commercNike Air Presto Fly