PRODUCING LOWER-COST TITANIUM FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Although titanium has attractive properties that can improve the perfo rmance and economy of automobiles, at its current cost, it cannot comp ete with steel in most applications for which it is suited. It is read ily apparent that titanium cannot be considered a viable mass-market a utomotive materials alternative as long as it is produced with the Kro ll process. A look at existing and new technologies (as well as some t hat have been found lacking) in terms of applicability toward high-vol ume, low-cost titanium production for automotive applications indicate s other options.