Progress Towards a Titanium Metal Industry for South Africa
Over the past decade there has been a growing realisation in South Africa that the country had a real opportunity to add much more value to its vast resources of titanium-bearing ore. Local production of titanium metal and the conversion of titanium alloys into products, offer the potential of a new South African industry sector. In 2008 a report on a feasibility study, commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) ,was published. Based on the results of this study,the DST started actively promoting the concept of a South African Titanium Metal Industry and received the support of the South African Government for this vision. As vehicle towards developing and commercialising the building blocks for such an industry,the DST established a Titanium Centre of Competence(TiCoC) ,led by the CSIR. The TiCoC successfully harnessed the expertise and resources of research and development groups across the country and aligned these in support of the establishment of the envisaged South African Titanium Industry. Its scope covers not only the development of processes for the production of the primary metal,but also for the downstream conversion of the metal into components and fabricated products. In this paper the progress made over the past five years in South Africa with this exciting venture,is discussed. Some insight will be given in the achievements regarding an alternative process for primary titanium production. Successes with powderbased processing,investment casting of components, high performance machining, friction stir welding and additive manufacturing of titanium alloys, will also be discussed.
Titanium(Ti) centre of competence South Africa powder processing investment casting high performance machining friction stir welding
Willie B du Preez Oliver F R A Damm David S van Vuuren
Materials Science and Manufacturing,CSIR,P 0 Box 395,Pretoria 0001,South Africa
国际会议
The 12th World Conference Titanium(第十二届世界钛会 Ti-2011)
北京
英文
130-134
2011-06-19（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）